CNN returning to Florida in March to host presidential debate

As has been the case in the past two Republican presidential primary cycles, CNN will be bringing its resources to Florida to host a televised debate.

The cable news network announced Wednesday that it will come to the Sunshine State to host a debate on March 10, five days before registered Republican voters here will vote in the presidential primary.

In the announcement, CNN said it announced the debate because it’s unlikely the GOP will have chosen a nominee by that date “given the size and competitiveness” of the primary field. The March debate will be the third primary debate CNN will hold. The  first one is in September in California and the second in December in Nevada.

“With Florida’s diverse population and 99 winner-take-all delegates we welcome CNN’s announcement to hold their debate in the Sunshine State,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia said. “Furthermore, this ensures that all presidential campaigns will have to spend a considerable amount of time in Florida speaking to Republicans from Pensacola to Key West and everywhere in-between. Any campaign that can mount a successful state-wide effort in Florida will be well positioned to run a national campaign come 2016.”

Left unclear is where the debate will be held.

The Tampa Bay area has hosted CNN presidential debates in the past two presidential cycles.

In fall 2007, CNN and YouTube combined to host a GOP presidential debate at the Mahaffey Center in St. Petersburg.

In September 2011, the network teamed up with the Tea Party for a GOP presidential debate at the Florida State Fairgrounds.