FNC's Kelly Hosts GOP Candidate Forum

Megyn Kelly will host a "Special Edition" of The Kelly File Feb. 24 from Houston and featuring four of the five Republican candidates, but with front-runner Donald Trump a no-show.

The show airs on the eve of CNN's Feb. 25 GOP debate from the same city.

Trump has been highly critical of Kelly following her questioning of him at the first Fox GOP debate, but Fox has stood by her in the face of Trump's criticism. A Fox spokesperson said Trump was invited, but "declined given his conflicting schedule since he’ll be in another state." But at least one of the other four candidates will appear remotely from another state.

Kelly will interview each candidate separately, with an audience of Texas voters who will get to pose questions, too.

The town hall format has grown in popularity as a complement to the candidate debates.

On site will be Sen. Ted Cruz and Dr. Ben Carson, with Sen. Marco Rubio appearing remotely, and Gov. John Kasich, appearing remotely from New Orleans.

Fox reports that its coverage of the South Carolina primary, where Trump won a big victory, was the most watched in the history of that primary.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.