Rand Paul wants a one-on-one debate with Bernie Sanders on capitalism versus socialism.
Appearing on WHO Newsradio 1040 in Des Moines, Iowa, Paul said how useful the debate would be.
“We’ve been saying what a fun, dramatic, and informative debate it would be if Bernie Sanders and I could have an hour-long debate … debating socialism vs. capitalism,” he said.
This isn’t the first time that Paul has called for a debate with Sanders. In September, Truth in Media started a petition that Paul supported, saying he would debate Sanders “anytime, anywhere.”
The debate would give the two presidential hopefuls some much-needed attention. Paul has averaged 3 percent in recent polls and remains the lone voice on the GOP debate stage arguing against an interventionist foreign policy and the limitation of civil liberties. Sanders, meanwhile, has gained 32.6 percent support, but trails Hillary Clinton by 21.6 percent.
The debate could boost Sanders’ attempt to turn the Democratic Party more toward his self-proclaimed “democratic socialism” and Paul’s efforts to make the Republican Party more libertarian.
Truth in Media noted that “Democratic National Committee rules may prevent Sanders from debating Paul in an officially-sanctioned [sic] event,” though they might be able to find a way around the restrictions.
The Sanders campaign, however, has been lukewarm on the idea, neither supporting nor opposing it.
