Presidential debate line-up roils Dems

[Valin]

Washington Examiner:

W. James Antle III

9/28/15

 

The Democrats are having a debate about debates. Party members are concerned they are missing an opportunity, and perhaps skewing the whole primary process in favor of front-runner Hillary Clinton, by having too few. Party leaders, however, are mostly refusing to budge.

 

In May, the Democratic National Committee announced it would sanction six debates between the candidates for the party's 2016 presidential nomination. "We've always believed that we would have a competitive primary process, and that debates would be an important part of that process," said DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said at the time. "Our debate schedule will not only give Democratic voters multiple opportunities to size up the candidates for the nomination side-by-side, but will give all Americans a chance to see a unified Democratic vision of economic opportunity and progress — no matter whom our nominee may be."

 

Once the details were announced, some Democrats didn't think they lived up to this promise. Not only did they believe six debates was too few. Just half of the debates occur in 2016, with only four occurring before the Iowa caucuses.

 

Of the four debates for which the DNC set specific dates, three will be held on weekends. One is scheduled for the weekend between the end of Hanukkah and Christmas.

 

(Snip)