Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumDemocrats Are Calling on DNC to Allow Bloomberg to Join Debates
By Mark Niquette and Misyrlena Egkolfopoulou
Excerpt:
Democrats concerned that presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is avoiding scrutiny by not participating in televised debates with other candidates are pushing the party to allow the billionaire on stage.
Bloomberg hasnt been eligible for debates since joining the race Nov. 24 because hes self-funding his campaign. The Democratic National Committee requires a certain level of donations from individuals to qualify for the debate stage. Bloomberg has spent $278 million of his own money so far in ads, an effort that has earned him fourth place in recent national polls.
But both Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a group allied with Elizabeth Warren, said Tuesday that Bloombergs absence means voters dont get to evaluate how he answers direct questions and responds to challenges from other candidates.
Imagine a world where he hypothetically buys 30% of the polls and is the front-runner, Green said. How would it ever make sense not to have him on the debate stage to get scrutiny and talk to voters?
Green said he raised concerns about Bloomberg being excluded from the debates in a December DNC call. He proposed that the party add an exception for candidates who exceed some of the other criteria, such as doing very well in a number of recognized polls. A DNC spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request for comment, and neither did a spokesman for Warren.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-28/democrats-are-calling-on-dnc-to-allow-bloomberg-to-join-debates
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
redqueen
(115,103 posts)K&R
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapucelle
(18,265 posts)snip=====================================================================
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-28/democrats-are-calling-on-dnc-to-allow-bloomberg-to-join-debates
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,989 posts)When he spends his money, he controls the message. On the debate stage, he might actually be challenged.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,265 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jalan48
(13,869 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided