UPDATE: 5:42 p.m. ABC News severed the partnership it had with the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state’s largest newspaper, for its next Republican debate, a network spokesperson told Politico on Sunday.
The report did not specify exactly why the network severed its partnership, but an unnamed source told Politico that the relationship between the network and newspaper has been strained after the Union Leader participated in the Democratic debate last month and published editorials on its front page railing against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The Republican primary debate is scheduled for Feb. 6.
“We are amused by ABC News apparently just discovering that we endorse candidates and write editorials. We have been doing both for many years and it has never been a problem with ABC or other debate sponsors,” Union Leader Publisher Joseph W. McQuaid told TPM in a statement.
“We consider ABC’s actions to be spineless. Between bowing to the DNC and Trump, ABC is more concerned about appeasing the parties and candidates than informing voters,” McQuaid said. “The Union Leader will continue to serve Granite Staters by being a reliable source of information about where candidates stand.”
ABC didn’t immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.