Romney Will Not Attend Trump Debate

By JEREMY W. PETERS
NYT

Mitt Romney said Tuesday that he will not take part in a debate moderated by Donald J. Trump, casting doubt about whether other candidates will participate.

“I spoke with Donald Trump earlier today and indicated that we just can’t make this debate,” Mr. Romney said on “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” on Fox News. He cited his commitment to two other debates in December, one on Saturday on ABC and another next week on Fox News.

Mr. Romney became the latest and most prominent Republican candidate yet to decline, joining Jon M. Huntsman Jr. and Ron Paul, the Texas congressman. So far, only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have said they would appear at the debate, which is being hosted by Newsmax, the conservative magazine and Web site, and broadcast on Ion Television on Dec. 27.

(More here.)