Politico, in this article, quotes Larry King as saying that the Commission on Presidential Debates ought to invite every presidential candidate who is on in at least 40 states. The article also publicizes the Free & Equal debate that will be held in Chicago on the evening of October 23 at 8 p.m central time. The article says that debate will be carried on C-SPAN, and of course King is the moderator for that debate.
Thank you Larry! And they should all get a free supply of Garlique as well.
Yes! Absolutely agree, Larry. Thanks for the support.
If he had thought a bit longer on the subject he might have offered that being on 80% of state ballots that have more than four candidates to vote for to exclude from consideration states that mean to exclude and do.
The CPD might like the 40 state idea/standard as many states are just like them, utterly biased against alternative candidacies and would conspire with ALEC type organs to make ballot access even tougher.
40 states seems rather arbitrary. One could potentially win the election outright with only 11 states. Why not on the ballot for 80% of voters? Or a majority of voters? Or in states composing a majority of electoral votes? Or just a majority of states?
Why not have a debate in each State (plus each congressional district in Maine and Nebraska). If a presidential or vice presidential candidate is unable to attend a debate, one of the elector candidates could stand in. And why limit it to on-ballot candidates?
5 –
…or if a candidate’s electors are not available, he/she could send one of the kids, or the pet sitter, or that guy that lives up the street.
But seriously,I don’t see availability of the candidates as an issue. After all, the EC was “designed to protect the interests of the small states,” right? Since it’s surely working that way a debate in Idaho, for instance, would have been easy to arrange, given the many times that the candidates have visited that and other small states during this general campaign.
Where are they scheduled to be today, BTW…Vermont? Rhode Island?
I think a good cardinal rule is any candidate who can theoretically win 270 electoral college votes should be included. I’m not sure if this should include candidates who are on the ballots to win 270 electoral votes or candidates who can win 270 as a write in/balloted candidate.
@5 – I suggest that in Duopoly
http://www.amazon.com/Duopoly-Republicrats-Control-Electoral-ebook/dp/B005UHMKHE
Alternatively, 7 debates in 7 areas of the country over a 7 week period beginning after Labor Day. Each debate would invite all candidates on the ballot in States represented in the respective region.
addendum to 8: all certified write-in candidates should also be invited.
The real question in my mind is: Even if additional candidates were invited to participate in a presidential debate with the Democratic and Republican candidates, what motivation would the Democrat and Republican have to show up? It would probably require a constitutional amendment before a presidential candidate could be forced to appear in a debate that they didn’t want to participate in.
Addendum: And I’m not recommending that such a constitutional amendment be approved.
@10 – Arizona has a law that if a candidate accepts public funding, they must appear in at least one debate with all of their opponents.
Maybe a similar federal law could be introduced.
I agree that 40 states is an arbitrary number. All candidates with a mathematical chance should be included.
#6 It is not clear whom you are quoting.
Each State could set its own schedule for its debate. The state could restrict the debate to either presidential or vice presidential candidate, or one of the elector candidates. That is at least 5 people. Perhaps campaigns would pay more attention to the debating skills of the elector candidates.
Each State appoints its presidential electors in the manner directed by its legislature. Surely a State could require that those seeking appointment appear before those making the appointment. If an elector candidate indicated that he would support a particular presidential and vice presidential candidate, the elector candidate could invite either to appear on his behalf.
14 –
Who am I quoting? Gosh, I thought you were an avid student of issues surrounding the EC. Avid, but I guess not very attentive.
But as to this specific idea of yours, let me give you a way of estimating the viewing audience that would tune in to a debate among electors. Add up the number of family members and friends they have who are above the age of 25, and then add maybe five or six hundred people whose remote controls have failed batteries and whose TV’s are permanently tuned in to the station delivering the broadcast.
On another topic, it looks as if your boy may win the popular vote and lose the EC. Makes you feel all tingly inside, doesn’t it?
#15 All the local stations would likely cover the debate.
16 –
You have a marvel sense of humor.