You're all fired! Donald Trump released a scathing statement via Twitter late Tuesday, January 26, about boycotting the upcoming Fox News-hosted Republican presidential debate on January 28.

If a whopping 200,000 Iowa Republicans turn out to caucus, Trump would lead 32% to 21% over Cruz. O'Connell says Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is ranked in third place in most polls, has been making that case aggressively with one strategy in mind, "Rubio knows if Cruz slips up, he will be the one to slip into second place".

Only hours after Fox News issued a tongue-in-cheek statement mocking Trump's complaints against the network (he and Kelly sparred at the very first debate last year), Trump turned the network's invitation down and declared that he would hold his own event in Iowa.

"In general, the prevailing principle should be that news organizations must make independent decisions about who covers stories and how they are covered", Freivogel said. "We can't give in to terrorizations toward any of our employees".

Trump has already managed to hijack the news cycle leading up to the debate and could, even in his absence, still loom large over the stage of contenders who will gather Thursday night. "It will go back to one million people watching a debate that nobody cares about", Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told reporters Tuesday night.

The debate on the main stage will start at 9 p.m. EST.

Lewandowski was asked if there is any way that Trump will do the debate.

Donald Trump's going to make a difference in Thursday's Iowa Republican debate even though he'll be absent. Wallace pointed out that 1) that isn't done with any other candidate, and 2) he has refused to do it with Trump. Rick Santorum and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore - who hasn't been on a debate stage since August.

Cruz tried to cast the interplay as an example of Trump's inability to grasp the needs of true conservative voters. In a call on Saturday with a Fox News executive, Lewandowski stated that Megyn had a "rough couple of days after that last debate" and he "would hate to have her go through that again.' Lewandowski was warned not to level any more threats, but he continued to do so". It is the businessman's best showing in a Monmouth Iowa caucus poll since he entered the race. Kelly, who was one of the moderators from that debate, is slated to assume the same position Thursday.

Establishment Republicans - urgently strategizing to prevent either Trump the renegade or Cruz, the tea party darling, from winning the nomination - fear that failing to unite behind a more mainstream candidate like Rubio could doom the party to defeat in the general election. Outrage and media coverage followed by outrageous statements and more media coverage have been the Trump campaign's brilliant strategy for months now.

Fox News isn't blameless in the current dust-up with Fox News (although Kelly herself is, in my view). If Fox manages to get one up on Trump, it'd be a huge victory.

Donald Trump allegedly would only discuss the matter if media mogul Rupert Murdoch made the call.

Political observers also see a risk to Trump.

"If you believe in your staff, then you should be able to support them in the face of criticism", Ward said in a phone interview.