But Wasserman Schultz has repeatedly said that the number of debates isn’t adjustable.
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Earlier this week, protesters rallied outside of the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington, DC to oppose the rules that DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has imposed on Democratic primary candidates.
“My friends, what’s more important: Drawing a contrast with Republicans or arguing about debates?”
O’Malley, still polling in the low single-digits, appeared eager to remind his questioner that his campaign is not, in fact, a campaign for more Democratic debates.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Thursday she is not reversing her decision to limit Democratic presidential candidates to only six primary debates, even in the face of criticism from Democratic contenders Sen. “So let’s make sure we focus on the Republicans”, the congresswoman said in her speech.
The GOP has 11 sanctioned primary debates.
Wasserman Schultz has insisted she will cap the schedule at six debates during the nominating process and will bar candidates who participate in non-sanctioned debates from participating in the party’s own events. They contend that by limiting the number of debates, Clinton is less likely to face tough questions that could send her off script and further derail her already scandal-ridden campaign, as HNGN previously reported.
As for why he didn’t highlight the debates in his speech on Saturday, O’Malley noted that the convention marked the first time the candidates appeared at the same event in New Hampshire.
And Mary Ann Rogers, a Bernie Sanders backer from Manchester, said more debates would give voters more time to decide.
“Enough is enough!” Wasserman Schultz eventually admonished the crowd.
Try as she might to shout them down and redirect their energy toward Republicans, the raucous crowd, led by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, responded with added vigor.
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“We want debates! More debates!” party members yelled out, drowning out her remarks. “I have made it clear that if they want to do more, I’m happy to do them”, Clinton said during an appearance on CNN this week. In the other election cycles the debate schedule got out of control and so we wanted to get a little bit more control over it.
