The threshold for the first Democratic primary debates was not very high - like at all. The DNC made it easy, giving the candidates the chance to make the stage by earning at least 1 percent polling support in three different national or early primary state polls or receive donations from 65,000 donors from 20 different states, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state. Twenty people qualified, and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock was not one of them.
Bullock argues that he actually did meet the above criteria, and he wants another chance. He sent the following explanation to the DNC. According to the governor, his 1 percent support in a Washington Post/ABC poll in February, a Des Moines Register poll in March, and a Reuters poll from April got the job done. Despite there being questions about the validity of the WaPo survey, Bullock points out it was approved by a DNC vendor.
INBOX: “Bullock for President campaign today submitted to the DNC its certification for inclusion in the first Democratic debate.” pic.twitter.com/kN1kq5igOv
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 13, 2019
“Since there is no sufficient warrant to exclude such a poll in either of the original rules or in the Polling Method Certification form promulgated by the DNC this week, the poll meets the DNC requirements and is valid,” the letter reads.
Okay, I'm sorry, but this obsession over the technicalities is hard to watch. If you are making a case for the 1 percent support you got in three polls during a primary, what hope do you have in the general election?
Step aside, sir.
The first DNC debates will be held from June 26 to 27 in Miami. The contest will be moderated by Rachel Maddow and hosted by NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo and will air at 9 p.m. ET.