DNC Ups Thresholds To Qualify For 5th Presidential Debate
The new requirements come as Tulsi Gabbard is one poll away from reaching the October forum stage.
The Democratic National Committee on Monday to qualify for the fifth presidential primary debate, which will make it harder for low-polling candidates, such as Hawaii’s own U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, to make the November debate stage.
Candidates will have to have the backing of least 165,000 unique donors, including a minimum of 600 donors per state in at least 20 states.
That’s up from the current level of 130,000 donors needed for the October debates.
As well, candidates have to register at least 3% in four or more qualifying polls or 5% in two single-state polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Nevada.
That’s up from the current 2% polling requirement in four DNC-approved national or early-state polls.
FiveThirtyEight that Gabbard needs just one more qualifying poll by Oct. 1 to make the debate stage next month.
“By our count, she has gotten 2 percent or more in three approved polls (including the recent ), and her campaign says it has already hit the fundraising thresholds,” said FiveThirtyEight.
The New York Times that Gabbard is close to making the cut. Thus far, 11 candidates have qualified for the October debate.
Gabbard, meanwhile, has continued to criticize the DNC’s debate criteria, saying it lacks transparency and suggesting it is part of a .
Civil Beat reached out to Gabbard’s presidential campaign for comment on the new rules but has yet to receive a response.
The first October Democratic presidential primary debate will take place in Ohio on Oct. 15, “with a potential second debate the following night if enough candidates qualify,” .
The winnowing of the Democratic field — from more than two dozen — comes as the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary in early- and mid-February, respectively, near.
