Bobby Jindal gets invitation for CNN Republican primary debate

WASHINGTON: Indian-American presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal has been invited to participate in CNN's upcoming Republican primary debate next month, featuring 16 party candidates led by real estate baron Donald Trump.

CNN has invited 16 of the 17 Republican presidential candidates for the GOP debate on September 16, to be moderated by its popular anchor Jake Tapper, it said yesterday.

In addition to Jindal and Trump, other candidates invited are Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham and George Pataki.

Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore, who participated in the debate of lower-tier candidates last week, has not yet been invited.

Candidates must achieve an average of at least one per cent of support in three recognised national polls before September 10 to be included in the CNN/Reagan Library presidential debate.

"Debates are a crucial part of the election process, and I'm thrilled that so many qualified candidates have the opportunity to be heard at the Reagan Presidential Library," Reagan, the widow of President Ronald Reagan, said.

CNN said it would divide the debate into two sessions, each having its own set of candidates, the details of which would be announced later. Unlike the previous debate on Fox News, the two sessions on the CNN would be back to back.

According to an average of all the recent polls by RealClearPolitics, Jindal with just 1.2 per cent is currently ranked 14 among the 17 Republican presidential candidates.