@ByKristenMClark @PatriciaMazzei
WINTER PARK -- Jeb Bush told reporters in Orlando on Monday that the Republican National Committee should still hold a planned primary debate with Miami-based Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo.
"We should have the debate," Bush said in both English and Spanish. "I think we ought to have a Telemundo debate, or a Hispanic debate. It happened four years ago. Telemundo's not part of the problem of CNBC. They (CNBC) just didn't keep their word."
Bush was referring to last week's primary debate in Colorado. CNBC had billed it as a discussion on the economy; candidates criticized the network for also asking other questions, including some intended to highlight political contrasts among the rivals.
As a result, the GOP suspended its upcoming NBC/Telemundo debate, planned for Feb. 26 in Houston.
Bush, who is fluent in Spanish, has made reaching out to Hispanics a centerpiece of his candidacy, so it's no surprise that he would push to reinstate a debate that could play to his strengths.
One of his local supporters, U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Miami, tweeted Monday that the GOP should reconsider its stance. And he copied Reince Priebus, the party chairman.
It would be a mistake for @GOP to cancel @Telemundo debate. America's Hispanic community deserves to hear from our candidates. cc @Reince
— Carlos Curbelo (@carloslcurbelo) November 2, 2015
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