DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former technology executive Carly Fiorina will not appear on the primetime debate stage later this week when the Republican Party’s presidential class faces off in South Carolina.
That’s according to debate host Fox Business Network, which announced the lineup for this week’s debate on Monday evening. Just seven candidates will be featured in Thursday’s 9 p.m. ET event based on criteria established by the network relying on recent polls.
Real estate mogul Donald Trump will be featured center stage. He’ll be joined by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Paul and Fiorina were invited to participate in a 6 p.m. “undercard” debate.
