On the evening of June 12, Senator John McCain held a town meeting in New York city, at Federal Hall. He took questions from the audience. Frank Morano was able to ask the first question. He asked if McCain would participate in at least one general election presidential debate which includes all the candidates who are on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win the election. McCain first said that candidates should have some chance of winning to be included. But then he said “Maybe we should have one that includes everybody.”
Fox News was broadcasting the event. Unfortunately, while Morano was asking his question and getting his response, the station cut away to a commercial break. However, Fox reporter Shepard Smith then briefly told his audience what had just happened. He said that McCain had said, “Yes, it’s possible.” The words underneath the screen at that point were “McCain would be open to debating third party candidates.”
The candidates who are virtually certain to be on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win the election (assuming Cynthia McKinney is indeed the Green Party nominee) are McCain, Obama, Baldwin, Barr, McKinney and Nader, for a total of six.
In 2004, Barack Obama’s Republican opponent, Alan Keyes, held a press conference with the Libertarian and independent candidates calling for their inclusion in the debates. Barack Obama refused to accept the invitation to any debates, forums, or public appearances that the “other” candidates were invited to. I wouldn’t hold my breath thinking Obama’s mind might change. Obama is all about politics as usual and will change nothing as his 2004 behavior proves.
If Bob Barr is still polling 5% or more and can do real damage to McCain you bet Obama would want him in. Frankly I wouldn’t want to see a debate that would be more than just the three of them, and don’t hold your breath for Nader or McKinney to qualify anyway.
Conversely if Obama wanted Barr in then McCain would want Nader in. Nader is pulling more than Barr so don’t hold your breath.
The Duopoly will never allow debate inclusion . Just like with ballot acces this was all well thought out to keep third parties out. Evernotice CNN or Foxnews give you the current poll numbers without mentioning Barr and Nader even though you know thy are registering in percentage
Laine is correct although with the addition of McCain wanting Nader AND McKinney in at the least, IF, huge IF, he would agree to do anything with Bob Barr. Wasn’t McCain a big part of the Reform Institute(?) at one point, that did marginal work pointing out ballot access discrimination? Can he be tied to anything they put out to hold his feet to the fire? Yeah, i’ll have to look myself, just asking.
The D’s and R’s should go ahead and let the other party’s candidates in, for at least one debate. It’s not like they have anything to fear — they let Ron Paul and Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich into their primary season debates, and simply let the media portray them as fringe candidates. The voters for the most part went along.
The Democrats and Republicans shouldn’t be the ones that get to make this decision. Nor should the media. If a candidate is on the ballot in enough states that hold at least half the electoral college votes, they should have the RIGHT to debate, and the Dems and Reps shouldn’t be able to opt out. If they refuse to debate, they should be made to sit there on stage and watch.
Although Ralph Nader wasn’t even allowed to enter one debate as an audience member and watch.
This year presents much better opportunities for Barr and Nader to get into debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) only puts together a small number of debates, but there is a lot of interest among candidates and the public to have more. According to Rasmussen Reports, 77% of people like McCain’s idea of having 10+ town hall style debates. These town hall debates would not be controlled by the CPD and thus could include more than McCain and Obama.
With respect to getting into the debates, the presence of Bob Barr in the race could help Nader and vice versa. For one thing, since both of them are trying to get into the debates, that doubles the pressure to make the debates more inclusive. For another thing, Republicans who see Barr as a potential spoiler, will be motivated include Nader; and Democrats who are worried about Nader would be motivated to include Barr. Arguing for the inclusion of both Barr and Nader also makes it seem that the demand for inclusive debates is principled, rather than just in the interest of a single candidate.
And if the major party candidates don’t play ball, Barr and Nader should debate one-on-one. If a debate like that (which could be moderated by Jesse Ventura and/or Mike Gravel) attracts a lot of attention and interest, that increases the pressure to put Barr and Nader in debates with McCain and Obama.
Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich were both unfairly excluded from debates during the primary season. Now, Ron Paul’s new organization should put together a debate between Bob Barr and Ralph Nader, both of whom are trying to earn the support of Ron Paul’s supporters.
Jack, in the latest nation-wide poll, Barr polled at 2% while Nader was at 6%.
Well, I would argue that both Mcain and Obama are probably supporters of ‘politics as ushual”, while also painting themselves as “reformers”.
Yet, both candidates seem to have some interest in instant runoff voting and Obama has shown some interest in voting rights.
The spoiler effect is, for better or for the worse, a major reason why major party candidates are leery about interacting with minor party or independent candidates.
The only interest Obama showed in voting rights while in the IL State Senate was to put Bush on the ballot in ’04 when the RNC ignored Illinois’ deadline. Then his party proceeded to kick Nader off the ballot. For 8 years in the IL State Senate Obama refused to meet with anyone about IL harsh ballot access laws that have since been ruled unconstitutional, thanks to Mr. Winger. And Obama used those harsh laws to remove all of his primary competition in 1996. The only interest in voting rights Obama has, is if it benefits him and his party’s power.