There will NOT be a donor threshold for the Feb. 19 Nevada Dem debate, per DNC announcement --

[demmiblue]

There will NOT be a donor threshold for the Feb. 19 Nevada Dem debate, per DNC announcement — opening the door for Mike Bloomberg to qualify.

Link to tweet

[Tiggeroshii]

1. ew

[HerbChestnut]

2. This is how the ultra wealthy are able to buy elections.

[bluewater]

5. Bloomberg is just cutting out the middle man.

The wealthy always buy elections, super pacs, wine caves...

In a strange way, billionaires running themselves is more honest and at least it gives voters a clearer picture of whose interests most candidates are serving.

[George II]

6. How much is he paying to each voter? $0. I don't see how that can "buy the election".

[highplainsdem]

8. And he isn't promising to wipe out 5- or 6-figure debts to give anyone a financial windfall,

with that windfall to be tax-free.

[HerbChestnut]

9. Come on, George...

Bloomberg has already spent $250million on advertising across the country. Advertising works, obviously, which is why candidates spend money on it. Bloomberg can use his vast fortune to bypass grassroots campaigning and just buy ads and a campaign staff. And now the DNC, who once encouraged grassroots campaigning through their debate requirements, have backed off that stance and are allowing Bloomberg onto the debate stage. There is a reason people are tired of status quo politics. Bloomberg is Exhibit A.

[George II]

10. He's getting his message out. If people don't like they message they won't vote for him.

That's how it works in America.

[HerbChestnut]

12. Right, and the fact that he's able to "get his message out" by using a fortune 99.9% of people...

...don't have access to is what makes the current political system unfair.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Here in Nevada there is no

limits as to the amount of money one can give to any Political Candidate running for office. That is suppose to be a issue coming before the next State Legislative session. The Hospitality Industry(Casinos)won't let that happen.

[MBS]

4. SIGH. n/t

[demmiblue]

7. DNC overhauls debate requirements, opening door for Bloomberg

The Democratic National Committee is drastically revising its criteria to participate in primary debates after New Hampshire, doubling the polling threshold and eliminating the individual donor requirement, which could pave the way for former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg to make the stage beginning in mid-February.

Candidates will need to earn at least 10 percent in four polls released between Jan. 15 and Feb. 18, or 12 percent in two polls conducted in Nevada or South Carolina, in order to participate in the Feb. 19 debate in Las Vegas. Any candidate who earns at least one delegate to the national convention in either the Iowa caucuses or New Hampshire primary will also qualify for the Nevada debate.

The new criteria eliminate the individual-donor threshold, which was used for the first eight debates, including next week's debate in New Hampshire. Bloomberg, the self-funding billionaire, has refused to take donations from other individuals, which had precluded his participation in any of the debates since he joined the race late last year.

As of Friday, the three candidates who have met the Nevada polling thresholds are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The other candidates, including Bloomberg, have not yet cleared the polling threshold.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/dnc-shifts-debate-requirements-opening-door-for-bloomberg-110017

[napi21]

11. Let him in. Despite unlimited $$, he really doesn't have that many supporters.Plus he's spending $$

to continue to slam DT! We need as much as we can get!

[HerbChestnut]

13. According to recent national polls, he has more support than most of the current Democratic field.

That is a direct result of him spending hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising.

[napi21]

14. Here's the latest poll #'s & a neat graph from RealClearPolitics. Bloomberg IS rising, but he'has

a long way to go.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/2020_democratic_presidential_nomination-6730.html

[redqueen]

15. Well that should inspire confidence in the system nt

[demmiblue]

16. Bloomberg campaign on new DNC debate rules:

Bloomberg campaign on new DNC debate rules:

“We are thrilled that voters could soon have the chance to see Mike Bloomberg on the debate stage, hear his vision for the country, and see why he is the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump and bring our country together.”

Link to tweet

[SaschaHM]

17. Meh, there shouldn't have been one to begin with imo.

There should have been undercard debates w/ looser requirements instead of an arbitrary assortment of top and low tier candidates.

Winnowing should have been a natural process led by voters instead of donors and the DNC. Do I think much would have changed this year? No.

[Squinch]

18. I think he is going to win this. Don't flame me, I am not saying I think he SHOULD win, but I think

he will win the primary. And if he does, I will happily vote for him because he is not Trump.

I know people get mad when I say this, but Democrats suck at messaging. Bloomberg doesn't. He's getting Democratic message points out there. There is benefit to that for all of us.