The Democratic presidential candidates are at odds over whether to participate in a newly proposed debate to be held just days before New Hampshire’s February 9 primary.
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But no one knows if the candidates will show up.
“We made sure with a smaller debate schedule – again, with only originally five candidates and now three – it gives the candidates an opportunity to stay on the campaign trail for those early-state primary voters and caucus voters to get a really close look at them, and that’s what the goal of the early-state window is for”, she said. Last week, NBC News was replaced by CNN for next month’s Republican debate in Houston. Bernie Sanders will agree to join.
The new debate is scheduled for February 4 and would be hosted by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and NBC’s Chuck Todd, the Union Leader reported.
The DNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Joseph McQuaid, the publisher of the Union Leader, said it would be the first time in 32 years that the people of the Granite State would not have a Democratic debate before heading to the polls.
“That’s why Gov. O’Malley was the only Democratic candidate for president to consistently call out the DNC for its unprecedented role in silencing debate, and to lead the charge for more debates”.
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“We have no plans to sanction any further debates before the upcoming First in the Nation caucuses and primary, but will reconvene with our campaigns after those two contests to review our schedule”, Wasserman Schultz said in a statement, referring to the early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. It’s better than nothing, but there’s no good reason why we shouldn’t be having this as a formal debate where they can be on stage together. Democratic debates this cycle have far exceeded the viewership of debates in past competitive primaries. The schedule has outraged party activists, many of whom have suggested the schedule is meant to protect Clinton from exposure to criticism. Martin O’Malley (D) has already signaled his intention to participate, but neither Sen.
