Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton Open Door to More Democratic Debates

[ProudToBeLiberal]

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s campaign has agreed in principle to her chief rival Bernie Sanders‘s request for additional debates — paving the way for a possible Democratic forum next week in advance of the New Hampshire primary.

The New Hampshire Union Leader and MSNBC have proposed holding a debate on Feb. 4, just days before the New Hampshire primary. That debate is not approved by the Democratic National Committee, which has only officially sanctioned six events and has threatened to exclude candidates from future debates if they participate in unsanctioned forums.

The New Hampshire debate was announced earlier this week by the media sponsors without firm commitments from any of the candidates and has become bogged down in infighting between the campaigns and the national party.

Mr. Sanders agreed to participate in the New Hampshire debate, but only if Mrs. Clinton’s campaign agreed to a proposal for three additional forums. Both campaigns said they wanted the debate to have the DNC’s blessing as well — which the party has not yet provided.

“We are glad that Senator Sanders has changed his mind about a debate next week in New Hampshire. 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,” said Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/01/28/bernie-sanders-challenges-hillary-clinton-to-3-new-debates/

Looks like the MSNBC Debate before the NH Primary is happening. Glad to see we are furthering the political dialogue.

[randys1]

1. Not so fast, doesnt HC have to agree to 3 more?

And they have to be NOT on Friday, Saturday or holiday

[ProudToBeLiberal]

2. From bloomberg/politics

“We are glad that Sen. Sanders has changed his mind about a debate next week in New Hampshire. 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,” campaign says in statement.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/trackers/2016-01-28/clinton-campaign-glad-sanders-agreed-to-new-debate

Looks like the Sander's campaign changed its mind and we will have a MSNBC debate right before the NH primary.

[randys1]

3. What I read was there had to be 3 more and not on certain days, has HC agreed?

Isnt that a condition of BS going to NH debate?

I saw that, let me look again

Mr. Sanders agreed to participate in the New Hampshire debate, but only if Mrs. Clinton’s campaign agreed to a proposal for three additional forums. Both campaigns said they wanted the debate to have the DNC’s blessing as well — which the party has not yet provided.

One in March, April and May and none on a Friday, Saturday or holiday weekend,” said campaign manager Jeff Weaver in a Wednesday statement.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

4. I'm just posting what I have seen on news sites.

All of them are reporting that Sanders has agreed to the MSNBC debate...

[randys1]

5. We are reading the same sites, I just excerpted the part I read...seems to me it

isnt fully decided yet, but maybe it is

[sadoldgirl]

6. Still looks like DWS has the last say, imo.

[winter is coming]

9. +1. Bernie hasn't "changed his mind".

He wants what he's asked for from the start: more sanctioned debates.

Whether or not more debates happen is down to DWS.

[highprincipleswork]

7. It is not happening, and this contains spin of the highest sort.

Wait a minute. If Hillary was so in for more debates before now, rest assured that debates would have happened.

Furthermore, Bernie has not "changed his mind" in any way. He always wanted more debates, said he would meet next week if DNC sanctioned the debate. By the way, so far they have not sanctioned it, in fact DWS has spoken in the negative about that, so far.

Additionally, the agreement to have three additional meetings, in addition to the NH one and the existing scheduled debates has not been worked out. Has Hillary fully agreed? Has the DNC sanctioned.

Bernis is wise to stock to DNC sanctioned debates. They threaten and have threatened all along to disallow anyone from participating in the sanctioned debates if they participate in unsanctioned. Fuggedabout it!

DWS and the DNC have made a royal mess of the debate schedule, sacrificing valuable PR capitol in their effort to downplay the debates. Now that Hillary feels she needs them, opportunities are popping up all over.

Makes me sick, frankly.

[MoonRiver]

8. Good! I love watching Hillary debate!

[mikehiggins]

10. You have to admire the HRC people's ability to look you in the eye and lie

No need to go into much detail.

It just started with the "we always expected a difficult struggle" and went downhill from there.

Loved the editorial today pointing out there's nothing wrong with dishonesty.

God these people are funny

[SunSeeker]

11. LOL. Looks like Sanders’ poison pill (late season debates condition) didn’t work to kill the deal.