Ben Carson to RNC: Let Carly Fiorina Debate

Ben Carson is afraid the eligibility requirements for the Republican presidential debates will be too strict — for Carly Fiorina.

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has announced his candidacy for the 2016 GOP nomination, wrote a letter Friday to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus about reports that the party will attempt to limit the number of candidates at the debates.

Some Republicans fear the field is too large to allow candidates to get sufficient speaking time to have meaningful debates. Carson isn't one of those Republicans, however. "Limiting participation of qualified candidates on this reasoning," he writes, "I believe, does our party a tremendous disservice."

But nowhere in the letter does Carson worry that he will be excluded. Instead he advocates for the former Hewlett Packard CEO who is one of his likely rivals.

"I am particularly concerned with widespread speculation that my respected and well-qualified colleague, Ms. Carly Fiorina, may fall victim to those who want to limit debate participation to the more 'popular' candidates," he writes, "and I am serving notice herein, that I could not support such a decision."

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