Republican Party boss says Clinton miniseries will cost networks

Washington • Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that his party will refuse to allow networks that air documentaries on Hillary Clinton to host any candidate debates in the 2016 election cycle.

Priebus, on CNN's "State of the Union," said his party "will boycott the company that puts the miniseries on the air" because the broadcasts are designed "to promote Hillary Clinton."

The effort to rein Clinton's national exposure comes as the Republican Party is trying to regroup after losing the last two presidential elections. Party members are gathering in Boston this week for their annual three-day summer meeting.

CNN Films is planning a feature-length documentary about Clinton. NBC Entertainment has a miniseries in the works ahead of a potential 2016 White House Democratic primary bid by the former U.S. secretary of state and first lady, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. Both networks hosted Republican debates in the last election campaign.

The RNC sent letters on Aug. 5 to Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, and Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide saying the programs were a "thinly veiled attempt at putting a thumb on the scales of the 2016 presidential election."

The move is "a great fundraising strategy from the RNC," Joe Trippi, a Democratic political strategist, said on "Fox News Sunday."

Clinton, 65, has said she has no plans for a second presidential run, though she hasn't ruled herself out completely for 2016.

"If Hillary gets into the race, there will be a coronation of her because there are so many Democrats who last time supported her who I think are anxious to see her back out there again," Donna Brazile, a political consultant and commentator who was Democrat Al Gore's campaign manager in the 2000 presidential race, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Potential Republican presidential rivals include New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

"There's a lot of competition out there," Louie Gohmert, a Republican congressman from Texas, said on ABC.