Romney announces debate schedule

By Glen Johnson

June 21, 2011

1 minute to read

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, who has sought to tightly control his media exposure at the outset of his second White House campaign, today announced the next six debates in which he will participate.

The early poll front-runner is slated to appear in six debates between August and October, starting with an Aug. 11 meeting in Iowa sponsored by Fox News and the Republican Party Of Iowa.

He will then appear in a Sept. 7 debate at the Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, Calif., sponsored by NBC and Politico, and the following week in a Sept. 12 debate in Tampa, Fla., sponsored by CNN and the Tea Party Express.

Tampa will be the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention.

Romney will appear for a second time in the battleground state of Florida on Sept. 22, visiting Orlando for a debate sponsored again by Fox News and the Republican Party of Florida.

On Oct. 11, Romney will be in the lead presidential primary state for a debate in Hanover, N.H., sponsored by The Washington Post and Bloomberg News.

A week later, on Oct. 18, Romney will join in a debate in Las Vegas again sponsored by CNN and the Western Republican Leadership Conference.

Nevada is a key part of Romney’s early primary and caucus schedule. He is aiming to repeat his victory from 2008.

“Mitt Romney looks forward to debating the issues with the other Republican candidates and continuing to make the case against President Obama and his failed leadership on the economy,’’ campaign manager Matt Rhoades said in a statement.