First Iowa GOP Presidential Debate coming up Thursday night at 9:00 ET

All nine candidates on the straw poll ballot should automatically be invited to participate in the nationally-televised Republican debate that will be held in Iowa on Aug. 11, party leaders say.

The candidates listed on the ballot for the Aug. 13 straw poll are: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Thaddeus McCotter, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

The Iowa Republican Party’s state central committee voted unanimously today to approve to that rule, and three other rules developed jointly with Fox News Channel.

Candidates must satisfy the following by 4 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Aug. 9:

1. Registered with the Federal Elections Commission as a presidential exploratory committee or presidential campaign

2. Meet all U.S. Constitutional requirements

3. Garnered at least an average of one percent in five national polls based on most recent polling leading up to the registration day.

The debate will begin at 8 pm CST on Thursday, Aug. 11 at Stevens Auditorium on the Iowa State University campus.

Tickets are not for sale but will be given to supporters and those who sponsor a pre-debate reception, a party spokesman said.

For more information, contact Matt Groenwald at the Republican Party of Iowa at (515) 282-8105.