Martin O'Malley narrowly qualifies for fourth debate

[sufrommich]

Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley will likely qualify for the next debate -- but just barely.

Criteria announced by NBC News on Friday for its Jan. 17 Democratic debate in Charleston requires qualifying candidates to have at least 5 percent support in the early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or nationally.

Based on the polls NBC is recognizing, O'Malley sits at exactly 5 percent in Iowa.

An NBC News official with knowledge of the criteria confirmed O'Malley, a two-term Maryland governor, currently qualifies. The official said NBC would likely round O'Malley's total up if subsequent polls lowered his average a few tenths of a percent.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-omalley-narrowly-qualifies-for-fourth-debate-20160108-story.html


Turns out it's much ado about nothing.

[randys1]

1. Why have the criteria at all, are there other candidates who want in that this will

deny?

Otherwise why do something that might exclude MOM?

[DURHAM D]

10. Yes. This guy -

http://www.kcci.com/politics/man-moves-to-iowa-to-run-for-president-new-neighbors-not-happy/37068438

[DURHAM D]

2. Some people love ado.

[MoonRiver]

9. Which begs the question

what the hell is an "ado?"

[sufrommich]

11. It's a delicious beverage with addiction rates

comparable to crack.

[MoonRiver]

13. Well now I understand why some people want so much of it!

[firebrand80]

3. Then what was the point in announcing the criteria?

NBC could have just invited the three candidates and left it at that.

[sufrommich]

6. I don't know,but judging by their comments,

they already knew O'Malley would qualify.

[leftofcool]

4. So, all the whining was much ado about nothing?

[bigtree]

14. whining?

...this is ground worth defending, no matter who your Democratic choice is.

[book_worm]

5. Good!

[mmonk]

7. Depends on what someone means by nothing.

Arbitrary numbers to allow or disallow a candidate to get his or her message out doesn't seem like a little d democratic process.

[Tanuki]

8. I'm glad he is being included, as all candidates should be heard. How else can people make

informed choices? But O'Malley needs some serious work on his ground game. Failing to get enough valid signatures to get on the Ohio primary ballot was a serious screw-up on somebody's part.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/12/martin_omalley_fails_to_make_o.html

[sufrommich]

12. Yes it was a huge mistake,which was surprising

because he's been working his ass off in the early states.

[DURHAM D]

15. But yet Rocky de la Fuente got enough signatures

to appear on the Ohio ballot.

I would like to know why Rocky does not have a DU group?

[Squinch]

17. Just want to say: that hide you got in the other thread was complete bullshit. You told the truth.

That's becoming hazardous around here. You should not have been hidden.

[monmouth4]

16. Gawd forbid Hill has to face Bernie alone....lol. n/t