The GOP has no idea how all its primary candidates will fit on a debate stage

(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

published 13 May 2015

The 2016 GOP primary already has six declared candidates — and, according to The Washington Post, that number could balloon to a whopping 16 or more before the first GOP debate on August 6.

But if more than a dozen GOP hopefuls do enter the race (and that's highly likely), how will the Republican National Committee manage to fit them all on a debate stage? And if they can't, how will the networks and the RNC decide who gets kicked off?

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"It is that complicated," one person familiar with the discussions told the Post. "Every time you think you've come up with a fair and equitable way, there's a reason why that scenario falls apart." No more than 10 candidates have ever been included in a GOP primary debate, and the RNC has reportedly suggested narrowing down the candidate pool through factors like poll numbers and early-state staffing.

But whatever happens, it's safe to say the candidates who aren't invited to participate won't go quietly. "All are sure to balk if they are excluded," the Post declares.

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Samantha Rollins is TheWeek.com's news editor. She has previously worked for The New York Times and TIME and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.