The chairman of the party should not be insulting the intelligence of Republican voters. A debate was promised and these ridiculous criteria are being used to renege on that promise and to engineer a preferred outcome.
Why not just take 90 minutes, find a tv partner, and let the candidates mix it up?
The only reason why you wouldn’t is if the party hierarchy is serving outside interests instead of the best interests of the voters.
It’s why Speaker Renner and Lt. Governor Collins have been given time to present their cases directly to the voters at the event