It’s not SNL, but GOP candidates will get time equal to Trump

CEDAR RAPIDS - Remember that Saturday Night Live skit with Donald Trump earlier this month?

Well, four for GOP presidential hopefuls will get free advertising time on NBC affiliates in Iowa equal to the time Trump was on SNL Nov. 7.

Republicans Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and Sen. Lindsey Graham will get a total of 12 minutes and 30 seconds in free ad time equaling 25 spots Nov. 27 and 28, according to NBC President for Affiliate Relations Jean Dietze.

In Iowa, the free ads will be shown on KWWL in Waterloo, KWQC in Davenport, KTIV in Sioux City and WHO in Des Moines between 7 and 10 p.m. Friday and between 7 and 10 p.m. and 10:30 and midnight Saturday.

The ads will run in lieu of NBC network promos.

Similar arrangements have been made in the early voting states of New Hampshire and South Carolina to satisfy the requests made by the four candidates for equal time, Dietze said. NBC filed a notice about Trump appearing for 12 minutes and five seconds as host of SNL.

Huckabee, who has made 29 campaign visits, is at 3 percent in the RealClearPOlitics.com poll average. Kasich, who has made six campaign trips to Iowa, was at 1.7 percent. He'll will be in Cedar Rapids Nov. 30 to participate in a forum at Coe College. Graham, who is at 0.7 percent, has made 14 trips to Iowa, the last Oct. 31. Gilmore, who has campaigned in Iowa just once since declaring his candidacy doesn't register in the poll average.

Comments: (319 398-8375; James.Lynch@TheGazette.com

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com