DNC announces fundraising, polling thresholds for early debates

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

The Democratic National Committee will limit its first presidential debates this year to 20 candidates, dividing the field over two nights, if necessary, and requiring candidates to meet either a fundraising or polling threshold to participate, a DNC official said Thursday.

The first debate will be broadcast on NBC News, MSNBC and Telemundo on consecutive weekday nights in June, the official said. The second debate will be broadcast by CNN on consecutive weekday nights in July. The DNC and those networks will use random selection to arrange the candidate lineups for each night.

The locations, dates and format of the debates have not yet been announced.

The debate details came as the DNC convened in Washington for its winter meeting Thursday. Democratic Party officials are desperate to avoid the spectacle of the 2016 Republican presidential debates, which divided a sprawling field of candidates into one prime-time and one “undercard” debate seen widely as a sideshow.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/14/dnc-fundraising-polling-early-debates-1170182

[DeminPennswoods]

1. How many viewers will tune in the summer?

My guess is not many.

[tiredtoo]

2. Probably just the few who are trying to pick a candidate. EOM

[BumRushDaShow]

4. There will be a bunch more debates after that

so if anything, it may start to help whittle down the field for next year.

[elleng]

3. 'requiring candidates to meet either a fundraising or polling threshold to participate'

[PupCamo]

5. and?

[crazycatlady]

6. this is typical in their targeted downticket races

Joe Schmoe who raised $500 running for Congress in a deep red district isn't going to get the national resources directed his way. Someone who raised 8 figures in a swing district will.