Republican Presidential Candidates Head To New Hampshire For Forum

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Days before the first official debate of the 2016 Republican presidential primary, nearly every GOP White House hopeful is heading to New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Union Leader is hosting a candidate forum Monday evening at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. The forum was created in response to Fox News's decision to allow only 10 candidates on the debate stage. Critics say winnowing the field now diminishes the importance of early state primaries.

U.S. Senate vote scheduled Monday on Planned Parenthood complicates plans for Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco Rubio of Florida and Rand Paul of Kentucky to attend the forum.

Businessman Donald Trump and former governors Jim Gilmore of Virginia and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas will not attend the forum.

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