The big-name Democrats in danger of being left off the 2020 debate stage

[Eugene]

Source: ThinkProgress

The big-name Democrats in danger of being left off the 2020 debate stage

"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 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.

-snip-

Read more: https://thinkprogress.org/first-debate-donor-threshold-2020-dems-2d77d339437a/

[comradebillyboy]

1. A 20 person debate is absurd. Even 10 is too many.

If a candidate isn't getting any traction maybe some self-examination is in order.

[Hortensis]

2. Way too simple. But Gillibrand might benefit.

Though her ambitious pushes into the media spotlight, including this run, may have made her a "big name," she's not a major figure in the senate, where she is not particularly well liked, or among the electorate, where her attention grabbing behaviors have gained support from some but lost trust and respect way too early of others.

But how about people of real value and substance, like Governor Inslee? Trump and to a much lesser degree Bernie Sanders are still sucking much of the media air out of the candidates' room.

[katmondoo]

3. She hasn't moved me yet. Maybe the debate would help if she makes it.

[Hortensis]

5. :) I'm looking forward to them also.

But before the debates I'll have already tried to learn about the most viable, who and what they are, their characters, histories, etcetera.

In 2016 I was already impressed with Governor O'Malley's record and ideas and liked him from close-up interviews, but what I learned from the debates was just that he couldn't wow by dominating a stage, that was Sanders' big talent, so, to my disappointment, a very good man wouldn't be moving up.

[Trumpocalypse]

9. Just curious?

What is your source? Please provide links?

[Blue_true]

6. I agree. nt

[GemDigger]

4. In defense of the late entries...

.. some are still finishing up their state jobs before going all in.

[ecstatic]

7. Seems like everyone I like has cleared the hurdle.

I thought I was going to have to donate to Booker tonight, but it looks like he hit the target last week.

[brooklynite]

8. To those complaining about the debate structure...what's your alternative?

Only Biden and Sanders as the current double digit candidates? More than 7% (add Warren and Harris)? More than 5% (add Buttigieg)? Who are you willing to drop off?