NH debates coming in April

[Catchawave]

By FROM STAFF REPORTS
http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=NH+debates+coming+in+April&articleId=80523287-8454-4f36-aea1-f1814cd9ae22

Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007


Facing new challenges to its first-in-the-nation primary status, New Hampshire will hold the first debates of the 2008 Presidential election season in April, several months earlier than in past primary cycles.

The state's largest daily newspapers, the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News, will team up with CNN and WMUR-TV to sponsor two debates on April 4 and 5, with one evening featuring Republican candidates and the other the Democrats. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate, and questions will be posed by John DiStaso, senior political reporter for The Union Leader, and WMUR's Scott Spradling.

The New Hampshire event will now predate a Democratic debate sponsored by MSNBC, set for April 26 in South Carolina, that had been billed as the first in the country.

Joseph McQuaid, president and publisher of The Union Leader, said organizers will invite candidates who have formed exploratory commitees as well as those who may not yet have formally declared their candidacies -- and he expects all will accept. "I don't think they can afford not to be part of the first-in-the-nation primary debate," he said.

The location of the April debates has not been set.

[bigdarryl]

1. April what 07 or 08 ?

[Catchawave]

3. This April 2007 !

April 2008 would be too late for the exploratory candidates. Sorry if that wasn't clear :hi:

[SCDem]

2. April 07

[teamster633]

4. As a resident of NH...

...I'm embarrassed by the delusional mindset of some among us who believe they are untitled to be at the center of Presidential politics. We are an extremely small state with next to no diversity; hardly a representative state to entrust with such power. And as a citizen I'm distressed by the ever-expanding political cycle. Who benefits from Presidential campaigns which will now last nearly 18 months? Besides the corporate media, that is? It is long past time for this farce to be limited by law. Don't the Brits mandate short cycles, in the range of 2-3 months? That ought to be plenty of time for all these decisive men and women of action to get their point across and it might actually allow them a little bit of time to concentrate on performing the jobs they so desperately want.

[Clarkie1]

5. Excellent points. It all does seem a bit overdone and overhyped. nt

[Auntie Bush]

6. Ditto for me except maybe give them 4-5 or even 6 months...certainy not 18!

You're so right...the media makes tons of money...it's obscene! It's our airways and they...as good patriotic citizens should give lots of free time and reduced rates for the primaries and national elections. Both R's and D's should get a certain EQUAL amount of reduced rates. This would also let some newbies who aren't millionaires get started, some publicity and a leg up in politics and that's a "good thing!" as Martha would say! The damn media can afford it...look at all the money they earn by pushing war, war, war! That's how CNN got it's fame and the others all hope for the same opportunity. This fact has been bugging me for a long time. Thanks for bringing it up. Now which politician will bring it up and make it a bill...HR 10 maybe? :shrug: