Univision, Washington Post to host GOP presidential candidate forum

OPINION:

Univision News and the Washington Post are sponsoring a Republican presidential candidate forum in early 2016 after the four earliest GOP primary contests presumably winnow down the field.

The partnership between the Spanish language channel and newspaper will explore Hispanics’ and North America’s “diverse population as an electoral force, examining key players, illuminating issues that concern them and understanding how politics function within the fastest-growing multicultural segments of the U.S. population,” according to a Wednesday release.

“Hispanics are the fastest-growing electorate in America today and will be crucial in deciding the next U.S. president,” said Washington Post Managing Editor Kevin Merida, adding they are “thrilled” to partner with Univision. “Our goal is to produce together the most authoritative, innovative coverage of Hispanic voters ever seen during a presidential campaign cycle. We will delve into their lives, how they relate to the candidates and how the candidates relate to them.”

The partnership will also include a series of polls, video interviews, and “interactive graphics and digital storytelling.”

The Republican National Committee has announced details to have at least nine RNC-sanctioned debates, starting with the first to be held in Cleveland in August, as well as tentative plans for at least two pending debates in March 2016.

Univision did not specify a date for the announced forum, but said it would take place after the four early states — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada — have held their nominating contests and as party rules begin to allow a winner-take-all distribution of delegates.

The RNC has said states holding their nominating contests before March 15 will award delegates on a proportional basis, rather than winner-take-all.