Why some established politicians are in danger of missing the 2020 debate stage

[turbinetree]

"I think it is a reflection of the overall energy of where the base is."
Addy Baird
May 7, 2019, 8:00 am

When the Democratic presidential primary debates get under way late next month, Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of the fourth-largest city in Indiana, and Andrew Yang, a businessman running on universal basic income who recently captured national attention for his anti-circumcision stance, will be on the stage.

Two sitting senators, current and former governors, members of the House of Representatives past and present, and a relatively high-profile former Cabinet secretary might not be up there with them.

“Not every candidate is guaranteed a spot on the Democratic debate stage, and the first debates are just over 50 days away,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) campaign said in a fundraising email Sunday morning. “The [Democratic National Committee (DNC)] could cut candidates from the stage if they don’t have 65,000 individual donors. We haven’t hit that goal yet, and time’s running out.”

While most campaign fundraising asks are hyperbolic, Gillibrand, the junior senator from New York, is in real danger of missing the first debate. Candidates can qualify one of two ways, as outlined by the DNC itself: Either register at or above 1% in at least three qualifying national polls, or secure 65,000 individual donors. And while Gillibrand has hit the polling threshold, the DNC has also capped the debates at 20 participants, and will reportedly winnow the field based on who has met the donor mark.

https://thinkprogress.org/first-debate-donor-threshold-2020-dems/

[samnsara]

1. altho Inslee isnt my choice i still donate to him and encourage others to as well....

..hes my State Governor but i dont think his singular message will inspire him to the presidency. HOWEVER he has a VERY impt message..CLIMATE CHANGE!... and because of him throwing his hat into the ring, this issue is continuing to be front and center. I think a lot of them just want their message to be heard...knowing full well they wont be Prez....so i donate to them. Cuz...why not? ANY of our candidates would be a better Prez than Don the Con......