Historic Partnership to Provide Unprecedented Worldwide Coverage

Oregon Republican Party Chair Allen Alley could not help but show his satisfaction as he announced that the Republican National Committee had accepted an ORP proposal to hold a debate among the Republican candidates in Portland next year. "I cannot think of a place better suited to host this uniquely global debate than Oregon," Alley proclaimed.

The Monday, 19 March debate will follow by two weeks the "Super Tuesday" primaries and caucuses when six states hold primaries and three states hold caucuses and is the day before Illinois voters go to the polls. Since this debate is early enough in the primary season that no candidate is likely to have accumulated the 1,191 delegates necessary to secure the nomination, this debate could prove pivotal — especially in light of the scope of coverage.

The Oregon Republican Party is sponsoring the event and presenting it to a global audience through partnership with Oregon Public Broadcasting — and by extension National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System — and the Washington Times. The 350 television stations affiliated with PBS reach 99 percent of the population of the United States, and are watched by 124 million people each month. NPR and its 270 member radio stations reach a weekly audience of over 33 million listeners. Millions more watch and listen online at PBS.org and NPR.org. The association between PBS and the British Broadcasting Corporation, along with making the broadcast available to Armed Forces Radio and TV and Voice of America will allow Americans living and serving overseas to take it all in. To complete the international reach of this debate, simultaneous Spanish language translations will be available to Hispanic viewers through secondary audio channels.

"By forming this unique coalition of media partners, the Oregon GOP is demonstrating the kind of leadership that Americans are looking for," said Alley. "Republicans, Democrats and Independents all have an interest in learning more about the philosophies and policies of the Republican presidential candidates. Our media partners have an unprecedented ability to bring the debate into living rooms all over the world. I am excited also that our media partners have the capability to fully utilize internet streaming technology and their distribution networks to reach Americans serving our country and doing business in every corner of the world."

Read the full announcement at the Oregon Republican Party web site

View and print the PDF version of the announcement

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