Sanders, Clinton, O'Malley on board for NH debate, await word from DNC.

[elleng]

New Hampshire Union Leader

'Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, and Bernie Sanders have all now agreed to debate in New Hampshire on Feb. 4.

The three are calling on the Democratic National Committee not to stymie a debate that their Granite State supporters have called for ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary Feb. 9.

MSNBC and the Union Leader are calling on the DNC to sanction the Feb. 4 debate.

The DNC has sanctioned six debates this primary season. Under its schedule, the next debate would not be until Feb. 11 in Wisconsin.

Clinton’s national press secretary Brian Fallon signaled today that discussions about additional debates would commence, with the intent the candidates debate next week in New Hampshire.

“We are glad that Senator Sanders has changed his mind about a debate next week in New Hampshire,” Fallon said in a statement. “We have always been willing to add additional debates beyond the six that had been scheduled and look forward to starting discussions on scheduling debates in April and May.”

The statement was issued in response to Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver’s call Wednesday night for additional debates.

“If Secretary Clinton wants more debates, that’s great,” Weaver said. “We propose three additional debates. One in March, April and May and none on a Friday, Saturday or holiday weekend. And all of the three Democratic candidates must be invited. If the Clinton campaign will commit to this schedule, we would ask the DNC to arrange a debate in New Hampshire on Feb. 4.”

O’Malley had previously endorsed another debate in New Hampshire — the three debated Dec. 19 at St. Anselm College, in a debate co-sponsored by the Union Leader and ABC News.

The New Hampshire Union Leader and MSNBC are hosting the Feb. 4 debate.

“Meet The Press” host Chuck Todd and MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow are moderators.

The push for the New Hampshire debate continued among Democratic Party activists supporting all three of the Democratic presidential hopefuls, a point that O’Malley’s New Hampshire director underscored in an interview Thursday on Concord News Radio.

“Anybody that has been following this knows that the people of New Hampshire pushed for this debate,” said John Bivona. “They care about having a debate between Iowa and New Hampshire and rightfully so. Look, it’s been a 32-year tradition for there to be a debate between the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary.”

The Feb. 4 debate comes three days after the Iowa caucuses, and five days before the nation’s first primary.'

http://www.unionleader.com/Sanders-Clinton-OMalley-on-board-for-NH-debate-await-word-from-DNC

[californiabernin]

1. Well, I'm glad they all seem to have worked that out.

Clinton gets the upcoming one in NH, and Sanders gets the ones in April and May (not on a weekend or holiday, I presume).

The more I hear about O'Malley, the more I like him. Look forward to having his voice there as well.

[elleng]

2. So do I look forward to having his voice there as well.

It's not at all clear whether the DNC will sanction this and their proposed additional debates. Wasserman Schultz (along with HRC, I/we suspect,) came up with the abbreviated schedule when HRC thought she'd be a shoo-in, but as things have changed, and HRC may think she NEEDS more, DNC has to consider this request. Wass Sch has said many times that there will be NO MORE than originally scheduled. We shall see.

[kristopher]

16. Not so fast - The Clinton Camp is Not Agreeing to the terms.

Bernie says NH debate + 3 (March, April, May)

Clinton Camp proposed NH + 2 (April and May)

Eel Slippery they are.

[longship]

3. I am glad this is sorting itself out.

Or, so it seems. The DNC cannot say no to this.

Better yet, bring back the League of Women Voters sponsored debates.

[winter is coming]

4. The DNC has already said no to this once.

I see no reason to believe DWS will change her mind.

[pnwmom]

5. She has more to lose than they do. They can arrange whatever debates they want

without her, as long as the three of them agree.

[winter is coming]

9. Bull. She has nothing to lose by complying with a reasonable request

made by all three of the major candidates for the nomination. If she doesn't sanction the debates, that will mean at least one of the candidates is saying one thing in public and another in private.

[pnwmom]

11. I said the opposite of what you think I said. I agree that she has more to lose

than they do IF she rejects their plan. Therefore, I think there is every reason for her to change her mind.

[winter is coming]

12. I beg your pardon; I did mistake what you were saying. n/t

[pnwmom]

13. No problem.

[elleng]

6. We REALLY need the fair LWV debates,

but I doubt that will occur; candidates want more control than the League would give them.

[longship]

8. They WERE fair, weren't they? nt

[winter is coming]

10. Yes, they were. I, too, miss them. n/t

[pnwmom]

7. I agree. I liked the League of Women voters sponsorship. n/t

[jfern]

14. DWS is only going to take this bad cop routine so far, it'll happen

[elleng]

15. We shall see HOW far,

and when. I'm not betting.