2016 GOP Campaigns Call for Overhauling Debates

— -- Wednesday’s debate on CNBC had barely finished when campaign staffers started calling each other.

“There was a lot of frustration after this last debate,” one GOP aide told ABC News. Besides a debacle over tiny green rooms, where candidates prep and wait, staffers were also furious over the tone and questions of the moderators.

The result: a summit this coming Sunday evening in Washington DC, led by Ben Carson’s camp, to come up with a list of suggestions for the remaining Republican debates. According to sources familiar with the discussions, a majority of the remaining candidates are expected to be represented.

For Dr. Carson, the wish list includes major changes. Two Republican sources involved in debate negotiations say his team will press for fewer debates -– a demand unlikely to sit well with candidates struggling for more attention.

But other ideas, such as abandoning “undercard debates” in favor of larger events featuring the entire field, would undoubtedly be supported by lower-tier candidates like Bobby Jindal and Lindsey Graham, whose teams helped organize the meeting.

Carson also wants organizers to guarantee opening and closing statements, along with friendlier, more conservative moderators, according to sources.

A spokesperson for the Carson campaign denied there was a list of demands, saying “this really is just a conversation that we are having with the other campaigns."

But Carson has expressed support for some of these rules before. In May, he issued a letter to the Republican National Committee, urging it to be more inclusive in its polling criteria.

“The rules may be good for me personally, but they are not good for the process,” he wrote. “Surely we can find a format that allows every voice to be heard.”

Other rules that may be considered include the number of moderators, sources said. “Maybe we don’t want 8 moderators coming in and out,” the GOP aide said. Donald Trump has consistently called for debates not exceeding two hours.

These suggestions will be considered by campaign managers and other aides, who hope to eventually present a list of demands to the Republican National Committee and news outlets carrying the remaining debates.

“In previous debates we would agree to the debate, the rules were put upon us and then we would argue rules,” said Mike Huckabee Senior Communications Advisor Hogan Gidley. “That’s not going to happen anymore. The campaigns are going to agree on the rules prior to agreeing to do the debate at all.”

Jeb Bush said he didn't know if his camp would be attending the meeting.

In a surprise move, RNC chair Reince Priebus suspended the party’s relationship with NBC News on Friday, promising the network would not host another GOP debate “without full consultations with our campaigns.”

But those campaigns are calling out Priebus, saying his leadership is just as responsible for the frustration.

“The campaigns have been completely left out of the process,” the GOP aide said. "The RNC is supposed to be advocating for candidates. And maybe that’s how they see this CNBC suspension. But it’s so much more than this. We never know who’s making a decision. The outlet says it’s the RNC, you go to the RNC and they send you back to the outlet…the green room debacle is a good example."

Carson’s wish list might not go anywhere –- all the campaigns would have to agree on demands. But NBC’s next GOP debate, slated for Feb. 26 in Houston, could be derailed for the same reason.

“This is a disappointing development," NBC said in a statement. "However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party.”

Asked if it would eventually go forward, a senior aide with one of the campaigns said, “I doubt it. All the campaigns would have to agree. And we're a long way from that happening.”

ABC News’ Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.