It’s crunch time for the second-tier 2020 Democratic presidential candidates hoping to nab a spot on the Democratic National Committee’s debate stage.
White House hopefuls have until June 12 to satisfy polling and fundraising criteria introduced this cycle by the DNC to wrangle the historically large primary field of two dozen contenders.
Several are headed to Miami for the prime-time events set to be broadcast by NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo on June 26 and June 27 after earning at least 1% support in three polls and attracting 65,000 donors, with 200 contributors from 20 different states. That includes former Vice President Joe Biden, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Obama administration housing secretary Julián Castro, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang can also immerse themselves in debate preparation following their surprise showing to secure their place in the line-up, which will feature 10 presidential prospects each night.
Meanwhile, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, California Rep. Eric Swalwell, and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan have touted their meeting of the polling threshold as they continue asking supporters for small dollar donations to boost their contribution numbers. If they can’t overcome the 65,000 donor barrier, the DNC will differentiate between them using their average result as a tiebreaker before looking at their unique contribution figures.
Rounding out the field are Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, Miramar, Fla., Mayor Wayne Messam, and Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who are yet to reach either targets.
Bullock’s relegation to the third category last week caused consternation for his campaign. Jenn Ridder, his campaign manager, accused the DNC of implementing an “arbitrary” rule change that disqualified a poll on which he was relying because it questioned respondents via an open-ended format.
University of Maryland government and politics associate professor David Karol acknowledged criticism of the DNC’s system that will likely exclude Bullock, a two-term governor, in favor of “eccentric” candidates like Williamson and Yang. Karol cited Bullock’s argument that he entered the race late because he wanted to concentrate on his state’s legislative session, but asserted that part of being a successful contender “is understanding the rules and the process.”
“I believe the DNC wanted to create neutral criteria after it was attacked by Bernie Sanders supporters in 2016 for allegedly being biased in favor of Hillary Clinton,” he told the Washington Examiner. “It’s interesting that the Democrats sought to avoid having A and B list debates, but they’ll still have a situation where someone like Joe Biden will potentially be standing beside someone with 2% support nationally that most people have never heard of. But the criteria was clear and the candidates had plenty of notice of them, so it’s a bad sign if they can’t make this first round.”
Karol, however, added that while there wasn’t a “decisive” link between debates and clinching the nomination or White House, contenders “have been helped or hurt in the past.”
“They also give people who are not as well known to the public the opportunity to break out and have a moment in the spotlight and be seen interacting with those better known candidates,” he said. “I actually think the debates are an incentive for those people to run because it can be helpful in the future even if they don’t win.”
Regardless, Democratic consultant Donnie Fowler contended it was “a political necessity” for the DNC to “accommodate” every hopeful “who meets their qualifications.”
“After all, who is going to advocate that candidates be left out? No one. And who is going to advocate that all candidates be given a podium? Everyone. In politics, that’s an easy way to predict the result!” Fowler said.
