Over at CNN, Brian Stelter breaks news that the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)-the Republican/Democrat-controlled organization that has monopolized organization of the presidential debates since the 1988 election-has announced its criteria for inclusion in this fall’s televised gabfests.
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GOP nominee Donald Trump and and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton are virtually guaranteed to receive invitations to all three debates, since candidates must achieve a minimum threshold of 15 percent in an average of the polls. He said he wants to see a “fair moderator” selected.
Nielsen found the most-watched debate since 1980 occurred just last cycle when Mitt Romney and Barack Obama faced off in their first debate which was moderated by Jim Lehrer.
To be a part of the debate, candidates also have to meet constitutional eligibility requirements to hold office, and have their name appear on enough state ballots to have a mathematical chance at gaining a majority in the Electoral College, according to the commission’s rules. The Commission stated that this criteria will be applied in “mid-September”.
Johnson now averages 9 percent in the three most recent qualifying polls, while Stein sits at just under 5 percent.
The second debate is to take place on October 9 and the third debate is to take place on October 19.
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Trump told Fox News that Republicans and conservatives get unfair treatment by moderators and the media.
