When are the first debates?

[Jersey Devil]

I've read about how they need 65,000 donors or to score in national polls to qualify, but nothing about when they will happen.

[MineralMan]

1. I don't think any are scheduled yet.

It's too early. We don't even have a complete list of candidates yet. I wouldn't expect any debates until late in this year. They need to be closer to the actual primary elections or caucuses to be effective.

[Jersey Devil]

2. Yes, I agree, but then why would 65,000 be significant?

By the time they get to the debates that number of donors needed to qualify must change I would think.

[MineralMan]

4. I don't know, really. That arbitrary number was set

by someone as a minimum qualification for the debates. It's not really a very high bar, it seems to me. Anyone who cannot generate that small number of donations probably should withdraw, anyhow.

[lark]

6. I'm pretty sure I saw last week that one is scheduled for June.

Still recovering from concussion so can't do research to find the link, makes my head hurt.

[bearsfootball516]

3. The date hasn't been announced, but the first two are in June, followed by two more in July

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/candidates-reach-for-the-magic-ticket-to-democratic-debates-65000-donors/2019/03/19/9a1f80e0-4a4b-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html?utm_term=.3df7354065e5

"The Democratic Party also set the fundraising threshold with the goal of expanding the early debate stage to include as many as 20 candidates, who will be randomly divided to appear on consecutive nights in a two-day June debate hosted by NBC and a two-day July meeting hosted by CNN."

[Jersey Devil]

5. Thanks (nt)

nt