Whaddya Know: Dems To Host 2016 Primary Debates After All

Why? Haven’t they already crowned a nominee?

Democrats will announce Tuesday six presidential primary debates, giving long shots a potential opportunity to share the debate stage with frontrunner Hillary Clinton, CNN has learned.

The Democratic National Committee has plans for debates to occur in the early-contest states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The two other locations will be decided at a later date.

If the polls are any indication, my friends, this thing is over. It’s a point we've emphasized in the past. Barring some unexpected entrant into the race—someone, say, not unlike Barack Obama with charisma, charm, and star-quality appeal—Republicans will face Hillary Rodham Clinton in the general election in 2016, period.

But for the sake of appearances, perhaps it’s for the best that the Democrats will keep up formalities and host a half dozen debates this election cycle, even if HRC is contemplating skipping them. Presumably, no one likes a presidential candidate (and likely nominee) who thinks he or she is entitled to the American presidency.

Hosting primary debates, therefore, will give potential ‘challengers’ the opportunity to lay some rhetorical blows against Mrs. Clinton—and inch her more to the Left—without jettisoning tradition. Amazingly, while the Republican nomination remains very much up for grabs, the Democratic presidential primary effectively ended last month.

It was, as they say, fun while it lasted.