The decision by Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz to keep an abbreviated presidential primary debate schedule ruffled the feathers of just about every non-Clinton acolyte. Democratic presidential candidates vocally opposed the meager schedule which they claimed was designed to help Hillary Clinton. So incensed were New Hampshire delegates that they shouted down Wasserman Shultz chanting, “we want debates!”
Three of the last four Democratic Presidential Primary debates were scheduled on weekends. The last? Scheduled to compete with two NFL playoff games and PBS favorite, Downton Abbey.
After the most recent debate Sunday night (which was cut short by the network), Wasserman Shultz was chastised by CNN’s Brian Stelter for the lack of debate opportunities.
Monday, I suggested the paltry debate schedule was doing more harm than good for Hillary, whose poll numbers continue to tank:
CNN’s Brian Stelter prodded DNC Chairwoman Wasserman Shultz on the limited weekend-only debate schedule. Wasserman Shultz claimed other candidate forums, like the one held on Fusion last week, are meant to draw national exposure in lieu of more debates. Stelter expressed his frustration with incredibly low ratings in other candidate forums saying, “I feel like your all’s [sic] voices aren’t getting heard the way the could be if there were more of these events.”“I did my best to make sure, along with my staff and along with our debate partners, to come up with a schedule that we felt was going … to maximize the opportunity for voters to see our candidates,” said Wasserman Schultz. Contradicting herself, she then suggested voters would have a better opportunity to see candidates in person, saying “pulling them off the campaign trail every other day to prepare for a debate,” isn’t the direction they wanted to go this election cycle.Because they’re not getting answers from Hillary Clinton during primetime, viewers are turning to Google for help deciphering Hillary’s scandallacious dealings. During Sunday’s Democratic presidential primary debate, the top trending question on Google’s search enginges was “Will Hillary Clinton get prosecuted?”
But that was Monday.
Today, CNN announced a last minute scheduling addition: a town hall-like event with Democratic presidential candidates in Iowa. It will air at 9:00 PM ET with CNN anchor Chris Cuomo serving as the moderator. Mind you, Cuomo’s brother (the Governor of New York) endorsed Clinton’s campaign and raised money on her behalf. But anyway, the town hall event:
The Democratic presidential hopefuls will face voters in a CNN town hall on Monday in Des Moines — one week before the highly anticipated Iowa caucuses.Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will field questions from Iowa Democrats in this prime-time event hosted by the Iowa Democratic Party and Drake University.”We are honored to partner with CNN on their town hall with our three fantastic Democratic candidates,” said Dr. Andy McGuire, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. “With this event airing just one week before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, it’s an incredible opportunity for Iowans to see our candidates detail their plans to move our country forward and their vision for Iowa and the nation.”The town hall, which will be moderated by CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, will air from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET, the network announced. A CNN spokesperson added that it will make the town hall available to its Iowa affiliates to air live.
Though still holding the lead in national polls, Clinton is barely polling above Sanders in Iowa but is getting trounced in New Hampshire. In South Carolina, she still hold yuge leads.
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