As calls for more Democratic presidential debates have quieted down, the three primary candidates have lost yet another opportunity to appear together on stage.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Democratic candidate forum, planned for Iowa in December has been cancelled due to a lack of interest from the candidates. The forum would have focused on income inequality and been hosted by the Progressive Agenda, de Blasio’s nonprofit group.
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“It is clear other efforts beyond the previously-planned presidential forum will more effectively advance the cause of fighting income inequality,” the group’s executive director Geri Prado said in a statement. “However, TPAC [The Progressive Agenda Committee] will continue to work with our leaders at the local, state and federal levels to implement tangible solutions to what is the crisis of our time.”
While both Bernie Snders and Martin O’Malley confirmed their attendance to the event, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton declined to formally RSVP to the forum.
The cancellation of the forum comes not long after the mayor endorsed Clinton for the Democratic nomination. De Blasio served as campaign manager for Clinton during her first Senate run in New York. In his endorsement de Blasio said that Clinton was the candidate he “believe[s] can address income inequality effectively.”
Many voters and pundits within the Democratic Party have rallied against the Democratic National Committee for their reluctance to allow more than six debates, compared to the 16 debates the GOP is holding. The objection is that the debate schedule favors the front-runner, as it does not give underdog candidates enough face time. The Democrats did add a candidates’ forum in South Carolina, which took place last week. The Democrats will gather on Saturday for their second primary debate in Iowa.
