Democratic candidates defy party and consider new debate

Our next DNC-sanctioned debate featuring our major candidates will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin hosted by PBS on February 11th, with another already scheduled for March 9th with Univision and the Washington Post.

“We have no plans to sanction any further debates before the upcoming First in the Nation caucuses and primary”, Wasserman Schultz said in a statement, “but will reconvene with our campaigns after those two contests to review our schedule”.

Unsurprisingly, Gov. Martin O’Malley is all for it. He’s been calling for more debates throughout the process.

“In keeping with the best traditions of the New Hampshire primary, we have always believed that the voters of the Granite State deserve more than one opportunity to see their candidates for president debate side by side”, said John Bivona, O’Malley’s New Hampshire state director.

But the Democratic National Committee (DNC) raised doubts about whether it would proceed, saying in a statement it had no plans to sanction this debate.

Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said earlier this week that Clinton would participate if the other candidates agree, allowing the party to sanction the debate.

DNC insiders said last week the Iowa debate was scheduled only “because it was clear Hillary had lost the one before and with Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders surging, Debbie wanted to give her a do-over”.

Clinton is trailing Sanders in New Hampshire and locked in a tight contest in Monday’s Iowa caucuses, raising the possibility that the Democratic front-runner could lose both. The debate would be a last-minute addition to a list of DNC-approved sessions that Sanders and others have previously said is too short. “That is what I’m hoping will happen”, Clinton said in an interview with MSNBC. Aides to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders did not immediately respond to questions. Four debates have been conducted, but the next DNC debate doesn’t come until February 11. “Megan cannot contain her bias, it’s in every show”, he tweeted Tuesday, then later signaled he was polling followers about whether he should participate in the debate.

The Union Leader has not made an endorsement in the Democratic primary.

Clinton called on DNC chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to agree to the debate. And earlier this month, the Union Leader was axed as a sponsor of a February 6 GOP debate that will air on ABC.