Republicans Debate
Republican presidential candidates from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman stand for the National Anthem before a November 2011 debate in Washington.
(Evan Vucci, The Associated Press)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fox News, which will sponsor the first Republican presidential debate, is expected to announce soon that it has settled on Aug. 6 at The Q in Cleveland, GOP sources have told the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
The Republican National Committee announced in January that Ohio would host the party's first clash of 2016 contenders. And it was little secret that Cleveland was the preferred location, given that the city is hosting the RNC's summer meeting the first week of August, as well as the GOP's nominating convention next year.
But it took time to settle on a date and place. Scouts with the party and Fox News spent months sizing up possible venues -- The Q and Public Auditorium were believed to be the two finalists -- and hammering out details.
An official announcement is likely in the coming days.
One question remains: Who will be eligible to participate in the debate?
There are nearly 20 serious prospects running or considering bids, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Govs. John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin; and Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida.
Time reported last week that there have been private discussions about limiting participants based on criteria such as polling and fundraising.
The Republican National Convention is scheduled for July 2016, also at The Q.