Daily Mail Reporter: Fired UP: Paul and Huntsman Refuse to attend Trump's debate! trr

He's not even running for president, but Donald Trump's latest venture has some Republican candidates riled about the 'circus' it would become. It was announced Friday that the real estate mogul and Apprentice host would lead the event between White House hopefuls on December 27. The timing is crucial, since it is scheduled to take place just one week before the Iowa primary, which is the first of the 2012 election race. Ron Paul's campaign said in a statement that Trump's presence is 'beneath the office of the presidency' and an 'unwanted circus-like atmosphere.' The statement went on: 'Mr. Trump's participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues, such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like.' Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor and another Republican hopeful, joined Mr Paul in rejecting the debate invitation. Not to be outdone by Mr Paul, Mr Trump issued a stinging comeback at the congressman later Sunday, calling him a 'clown-like candidate.' He also pointed out that Trump's own favourability eclipsed Paul's during rumors of his own possible candidacy. Trump told the New York Daily News: 'I am glad that he and Jon Huntsman, who has inconse -quential poll numbers or a chance of winning, will not be attending the debate and wasting the time of the viewers who are trying very hard to make a very important decision.'