Four years ago, Rock the Debates was seeking out opportunities to question leading presidential candidates on whether they would agree to at least one general election presidential debate (if that candidate became the Democratic or Republican presidential nominee). Especially active were Larry Reinsch of Iowa, and Seth Cohn of New Hampshire. They attended public meetings at which Democratic and Republican presidential candidates were speaking and answering questions. If they were able to ask a question of the candidate, they would ask about that candidate’s attitude toward inclusive general election debates.

By October 2007, ten Democratic and Republican presidential contenders had been asked the question. Generally the exchange was videotaped. Hillary Clinton gave one of the best responses. Unfortunately, Rock the Debates has become inactive, but perhaps the organization, or a similar organization, will be revived.

Rock the Debates always asked the candidates if they would accept the idea of at least one general election debate in which every presidential candidate who was on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win, would be invited. In the entire history of United States presidential elections, there have never been more than seven such candidates. In 2004 and 2008, there were six such candidates. We know from the experience of presidential primary debates that a 6-candidate debate is not unwieldy.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs will hold a trial in Greenville County Republican Party v State of South Carolina, 6:10-cv-1407. The trial is set for August 1, 2012, almost a year away. In the meantime, both sides will identify expert witnesses and conduct discovery. Because this case will take so long to reach a decision, the status quo will prevail for the 2012 presidential primary. All voters will be able to vote in the 2012 Republican presidential primary, even though the party, not the taxpayers, is paying for administration of the primary.

The New York Post reports that Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be a witness in the trial that opens September 12, in the matter of the money that Bloomberg contributed to the Independence Party and which the Independence Party then passed on to John Haggerty. Haggerty was to use the money to help the Bloomberg re-election campaign in 2009, but according to the indictment, he did not use the money on the campaign, but diverted it to his own use. Thanks to the Independent View for the link.