The dates are set for the 2016 presidential debate cycle—ARE YOU EXCITED??!!
Yeah, me neither. But the cycle looms like a dark cloud on the horizon, so we might as well get ready for it.
According to reports coming out of this week’s Winter Meeting, the RNC is drastically changing the way these debates are planned, structured, and covered. Instead of a barrage of debates, the events will be spread out over 7 months, and no one state will be allowed to host twice. The RNC is also taking steps to help campaigns more fully prepare, and has committed to bringing in a larger conservative media presence to cover the candidates.
From a press statement sent out by the RNC:
“The 2016 cycle is underway, and I can tell you it will be a landmark election for Republicans,” Chairman Priebus said. “By constructing and instituting a sound debate process, it will allow candidates to bring their ideas and vision to Americans in a timely and efficient way. This schedule ensures we will have a robust discussion among our candidates while also allowing the candidates to focus their time engaging with Republican voters. It is exciting that Republicans will have such a large bench of candidates to choose from, and the sanctioned debate process ensures voters will have a chance to gain a chance to hear from them. The American people are tired of President Obama’s policies, and I am confident the debate process will enable candidates to communicate their ideas and ultimately help us elect a Republican president in 2016 to get our country back on track.”
Here’s the schedule as it stands. 9 dates have been officially sanctioned, with 3 more pending:
1. Fox News August 2015 Ohio2. CNN September 2015 California3. CNBC October 2015 Colorado4. Fox Business November 2015 Wisconsin5. CNN December 2015 Nevada6. Fox News January 2016 Iowa7. ABC News February 2016 New Hampshire8. CBS News February 2016 South Carolina9. NBC/Telemundo February 2016 FloridaPENDING Fox News March 2016 TBD CNN March 2016 TBD Conservative Media Debate Date TBD Locations TBD
Whether the RNC actually honors its promise to make this whole process less painful remains to be seen, but I think they will. Last cycle, even as the candidates began to turn on one another, the electorate began to turn on the candidates—because we were sick of their talking points. The debate circuit became more of a running gag in the conservative media, rather than an opportunity for voters to get to know the person who could become president.
We’ll need to hold the RNC’s feet to the fire over who they choose to moderate these debates—we can’t afford another Candy Crowley-gate. It will be our responsibility to watch for media bias, and call it out when it happens.
But if the RNC keeps its word, and makes it easier for conservative outlets to take control over the narrative, it’ll be much easier to control the spin—and the fate of our chosen candidate.
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