O’Malley Lobbies Sanders For More Debates.Time

[elleng]

Martin O’Malley’s campaign has reached out privately to Bernie Sanders about arranging debates outside the six contests allowed by the Democratic National Committee, risking the ire of the Democratic party in a bid to gain traction for his candidacy.

Dave Hamrick, the manager of O’Malley’s campaign, called Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, an O’Malley spokeswoman confirmed. The top managers for the two Democratic candidates discussed the DNC’s authority to determine the number of debates.

The DNC has sanctioned six debates before the Iowa caucus next year, the same number as in previous election cycles, but mandated that the candidates do not participate in any outside debates.

O’Malley and Sanders have both protested the limited number of debates this cycle.

http://time.com/4001669/martin-omalley-bernie-sanders-debates/

Timing not mentioned. Had read similar story recently.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. You know who else I see attending?

Chaffee (sp? I have to learn how to spell his name). Webb would be the outlier.

[elleng]

3. I agree, I think Chafee will attend,

even tho he said things were/are 'ok' with him. He's a substantial person, imo, and would like to participate in the 'game.' And prolly hrc's and dnc's thoughts not so important to him.

[FSogol]

2. Set it for the 2nd or 3rd week of September. n/t

[elleng]

4. I'll be there!

Hope grandbaby's not on her way that day!!!

[Fearless]

5. I'm sensing a VP position.

Could be a good deal.

[elleng]

6. YOU running for VP, Fearless?

While I don't think either Governor O'Malley or Senator Saders WANTS to be VP, I do think that an O'Malley/Sanders (or vice versa ) ticket would be FORMIDABLE!

[Fearless]

7. I'm sensing that he's looking to keep his options open

It makes sense. Such an alliance would help both candidates as both would get more coverage. Bernie garners the coastal vote and O'Malley can help with everything in between. It couldn't hurt either.

[Koinos]

8. Looks like Sanders' campaign didn't go for it.

Sanders has also repeatedly called for more debates, saying that he is “disappointed” with the DNC’s rules.

But the Vermont Senator, who is attracting large crowds at campaign rallies—including 28,000 at a recent event in Portland—is less eager than O’Malley to pursue a path that would put him at odds with the Democratic Party. He is highly unlikely to participate in a debate that does not include Clinton, and his campaign spokesman said Wednesday that the debates must include all candidates.

Tad Devine, a top advisor to Sanders, called the “debate debate” a “distraction.”

“I don’t think we’re looking to be part of some splinter group or something like that,” said Tad Devine, a top advisor for Sanders’ campaign. “Our view is we want to work with the Party and not against it.”

http://time.com/4001669/martin-omalley-bernie-sanders-debates/

[elleng]

9. Right. I'm calling 'chicken,'

but I do understand the strategy: HIDE from Martin O'Malley!

[Koinos]

10. You have hit the nail on the head (as usual), Elleng.

They do not want O'Malley to gain traction. They want to keep him in the rear view mirror.

It is very frustrating for us who appreciate what O'Malley has to offer.

But he is one heck of a fighter, and they would be foolish to count him out. The more they try to hide him, the more noise he will make.

I don't think they cared for his "legal" challenge to exclusivity.

The irony is that, in this debate issue, the "outsider" Sanders is acting more like a democratic "insider" than O'Malley is.

Things are never what they seem in politics, and I respect our candidate more each and every day.