The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday that third-party candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson did not qualify for the first debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on September 26.
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Under the commission’s rules, Johnson and Stein each needed to average at least 15 percent support in the most recent polls of five national polling organizations to be included.
The commission, citing the averages the various candidates have achieved in selected polls, confirmed that Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton had met the criteria.
There are three presidential debates scheduled, the first of which kicks off September 26 on NBC.
Evan McMullin, for his part, called upon Johnson and Stein to agree to a separate, alternative debate, noting that Americans are clearly looking for an alternative.
The debates commission sets arbitrary polling requirements and uses some polls that don’t even offer the Green Party as an option, which shows how this system is rigged to protect the establishment parties.
“I think we should have a debate with no moderator, just Hillary and I sitting there talking”, he said.
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) at 1200 New Hampshire, NW said they will not change their 15% criteria to allow Governor Gary Johnson into the debates. Johnson was at 8.4 percent and Stein at 3.2 percent.
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The debate will feature only Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Both are “constitutionally eligible”, Politico reported, and they’re on the ballot in enough states to make it possible to secure an Electoral College majority.
“It is unfortunate that the CPD doesn’t believe such a voice should be heard”, Johnson said.
This commission seized control of the debates from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters.
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Johnson says that while he’s disappointed in the CPD’s decision, he’s not surprised.
