The Democratic presidential debate held in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 13, was confined to only six candidates. They were Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Obama and Richardson.

The debate sponsor, the Des Moines Register, required candidates to have had a campaign office open in Iowa, prior to October 1, 2007. Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel did not meet that requirement. This is the first Democratic presidential debate this year with fewer than seven participants. No Republican debate this year has had fewer than seven participants either, except for one that had only six (thanks to the commenter below). There have been 22 presidential debates this year for Republicans and Democrats.

New Jersey holds presidential primaries for the Republican and Democratic Parties. Candidates need 1,000 signatures. In the Republican primary, neither Tom Tancredo nor Duncan Hunter filed. In the Democratic primary, neither Chris Dodd nor Mike Gravel filed.

Candidates who did file in the Democratic primary are: Biden, Clinton, Edwards, Kucinich, Obama and Richardson. Those who filed in the Republican primary are: Giuliani, Huckabee, McCain, Paul, Romney, and Thompson.

Wisconsin holds presidential primaries for the Democratic and Republican Parties. State party leaders decide who should be on their own party’s ballot. Wisconsin Democratic leaders were more inclusive this year than Wisconsin Republican leaders, as shown by the fact that Wisconsin Democrats included Mike Gravel, but Republicans did not include Alan Keyes.

The ballot will include these Democrats: Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Gravel, Kucinich, Obama, Richardson. It will include these Republicans: Giuliani, Huckabee, Hunter, McCain, Paul, Romney, Tancredo, and Thompson.