Two GOP frontrunners, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, are threatening to boycott the next Republican presidential debate if its planners do not change the format of the event, NBC News reports.
"Neither Mr. Trump or Dr. Carson will participate in your debate if it is longer than 120 minutes including commercials and does not include opening and closing statements," said the letter, obtained exclusively by NBC News and signed by both candidates.
They take issue with plans that don't currently call for opening and closing statements at the October 28 debate, but do schedule 16 minutes in commercial breaks on top of the two hours of debate time. The debate was planned by CNBC, who is hosting the event, and the Republican National Committee, with terms reportedly agreed to by all candidates.
The letter, addressed to CNBC Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Cuddy, says that "neither" the refusal to include opening and closing statements, nor the potentially extended time frame, "are acceptable."
