The third Republican presidential candidate debate will be on Oct. 28 at the Coors Events Center on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, debate sponsor CNBC announced on Thursday. The debate, one of a dozen sanctioned by the Republican National Committee, will focus on the economy and will be broadcast by the cable network.

“Presidential elections are often won or lost based on core economic positions, understandings and values,” said Mark Hoffman, CNBC chairman. “Our nation’s economy and place in the world, job growth, entrepreneurship and the pursuit of the American dream live at the very center of CNBC’s mission each day and will be the centerpiece of our line of focused questioning at this debate.”

The network hadn’t yet determined what criteria would be used to decide which of the 15 announced GOP presidential candidates will participate, a spokesperson said, adding, “We will announce additional details once we finalize them.”

The first two debates, set for Aug. 6 in Cleveland, Ohio, and Sept. 16 at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., will be sponsored by and aired on Fox News and CNN, respectively. Those networks have said that not all the candidates will appear on stage for the debates, and that polling will be used to winnow candidates with insufficient support.

“We are delighted to host the first of the Republican presidential candidate debates to be held on a university campus,” CU Chancellor Phillip DiStefano said. “We have a long history at CU-Boulder of hosting high-profile visitors who bring exciting and engaging opportunities for our students and community to hear a variety of viewpoints. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with CNBC and feel this debate will be a memorable experience for our students and the entire community.”

Following the crowded 2012 primary season and a loss in the general election, the RNC conducted an “autopsy” and decided to limit the number of debates this go-around. Nine debate locations have been set so far, with an additional three in March or April, if the nomination isn’t decided by then. After the Colorado debate in October, the next one takes place in November in Wisconsin, with a Dec. 15 debate in Nevada following that.

While details have yet to be finalized for ticketing, the school said that CU Boulder students would have an allotment.

— ernest@coloradostatesman.com

2016 Republican presidential candidates graphic via Donkey Hotey at Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/