Sanders almost got to debate Trump on Fox! Yes, let's see cross-party debates!

[thesquanderer]

A Sanders-Trump debate, that's something I'd like to see!

Really, especially now that there are a manageable number of total candidates, some creativity here would be interesting. With so many open or semi-open primaries (where people can vote in the Dem primary even if they had not been registered Dems), there could be real benefit in allowing independents or potential cross-party voters evaluate all their choices on equal footing.

Anyway, it almost happened...

Rebuffed yet again in coaxing Hillary Clinton onto Fox News, executives at the network had an outside-the-box idea last month that would have made primary debate history: a face-off between Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and the equally fiery candidate on the Republican side, Donald J. Trump.

The Trump campaign was initially very interested, according to Fox officials, and the Sanders campaign was on board. But before the debate could be announced, the Trump campaign pulled out, citing scheduling conflicts, so the network planned to welcome just Mr. Sanders in an hourlong town-hall-style event, hosted by Bret Baier as part of his “Special Report” program.

Late on Friday, the network received a surprise call. Mrs. Clinton would participate

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/09/us/politics/fox-news-democratic-candidates.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[pat_k]

1. Would love to see that! (nt)

[winter is coming]

2. I'd love to see a cross-party debate. Too bad Trump chickened out. n/t

[thesquanderer]

5. He claimed "scheduling conflict"

so I don't know what excuse he would give if they tried to do it at another time. I would not be surprised if fox tried again. After all, it would almost certainly be a yooge ratings success. Now that Bernie has "lived to fight another day," maybe they will revisit it.

[SDJay]

3. I Thought the Candidates

could only participate in debates sanctioned by the DNC? Wasn't there some weird kerfuffle over that not too long ago?

I also think it would be a great idea, and part of that would be because I'd pay to see SBS eviscerate Drumpf on national TV.

[thesquanderer]

4. Yes... but two things.

One is, the DNC can always choose to sanction more debates (as, in fact, they did).

Second is that, AFAIK, DNC rules apply to debates among Democratic nominees. I don't think they would have any applicability if there were to be a Sanders-Trump debate. Though if it were, say, a 4-way debate of Sanders/Clinton/Cruz/Trump (conceivably all that may be left soon, if Rubio and Kasich don't win their states next Tuesday), then maybe DNC rules could be a factor.