[caption id=”attachment_147475″ align=”aligncenter” width=”2115″](AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)
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DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz had to deal from hecklers, from within her own party, while speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention on Saturday.
During her opening remarks, Wasserman Schultz had to shout over the crowd and interrupt herself as she was drowned out by calls for “more debates” and “we want debates.”
MSNBC reported that the DNC has decided there will be six debates, with any candidates who participate in unsanctioned debates being punished.
What eventually quieted the crowd was a remark from Wasserman Schultz about Republicans. “What’s more important, drawing a contrast with Republicans or arguing about debates,” she asked the crowd who erupted in cheers and relinquished control back to her.
The calls come from supporters of Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley, who believe that the DNC is benefiting front runner Hillary Clinton with the debate rules.
Top Democrats are also weighing in on the issue. The Los Angeles Times reported that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) believes that there should be more debates. Pelosi did not suggest how many debates there should be though, and acknowledged “I don’t know that we’re going to have more debates.”
On the other hand, Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.), who is close with the Clintons and was once the DNC Chair himself, told Politico that the allotted six is enough. And, he mentioned that the six debates from 2004, when he was in charge, “gave candidates the platform they needed.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, The Hill reported that Ted Cruz has mocked the Democrats for their debate schedule. While at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan, Cruz quipped “you know, I think they may end up just moving the debate until 2017.”
The first Democratic debate is scheduled for Oct. 13 in Las Vegas.
