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Ohio, Georgia Republicans to co-host debate

March 1 event in Atlanta will be televised on Cable News Network.

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By Lynn Hulsey and Aaron Gould Sheinin
Staff Writers 10:38 PM Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Ohio and Georgia Republican parties are teaming up for a unique presidential debate on March 1 that will allow Ohio participants here to question the candidates live on stage in Georgia days before the Super Tuesday primary elections.

The debate, announced on Thursday by Kevin DeWine, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, will air on CNN at 8 p.m. from somewhere in metro Atlanta, with participants in both states asking questions during the live debate.

“It’s the first of its kind, from what I understand,” said Chris Maloney, Ohio party spokesman. “This debate will shine a spotlight on Ohio Republicans and serve to heighten the national importance and implications of Super Tuesday.”

With 76 and 66 delegates respectively, Georgia and Ohio are the two largest delegations holding primaries on March 6. Although Ohio is the more populous state, Maloney said Georgia has more Republican delegates in part because of a formula based on population, congressional districts, and who won the state in the 2008 presidential election. President Barack Obama won Ohio and Sen. John McCain won Georgia.

“As residents of the quintessential battleground state, Ohio voters have always taken their role in vetting and electing presidential candidates very seriously,” DeWine said.

Details on the event locations in Georgia and Ohio, and how people will be selected to participate, are not yet available, said Maloney.

Georgia GOP Chairman Sue Everhart said she is “thrilled” to co-host the debate.

The debate will feature all Republicans vying to unseat President Barack Obama. The Republican candidates are Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

Upcoming debates:

Feb. 22: Mesa, Ariz., 8 p.m. on CNN, hosted by the Arizona Republican party

March 1: Atlanta, Ga., 8 p.m. on CNN hosted by the Ohio and Georgia Republican parties.

Upcoming elections

Feb. 11: Maine caucus.

Feb. 28: Arizona and Michigan primaries.

Feb. 29: Wyoming caucus

March 3: Washington caucus.

March 6, Super Tuesday: Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia have primaries. Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota and Wyoming have caucuses.

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