The first Democratic debates are in two weeks!
All four leading women have now qualified for the June 26 and 27 debates based on both metrics: Polling at 1 percent or more and meeting the 65,000 grassroots donor threshold.
That they’re all in is really important, because just one insightful answer or barbed one-liner on that stage can explode a candidate’s national profile, increasing their viability. Our women need that chance to shine, because they’re just not getting the same media spotlight as the men.
That’s plainly reflected in the national polls: Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris—who are getting the most media attention among the women—are holding about a fifth of the electorate between them, with Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders continuing to dominate. And Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand can barely get a toehold.
The first debate is where any of these women could break out, or even take the lead. And it might be the last chance they have, because the DNC is tightening its debate qualifications again.
The DNC says it will double what it expects candidates to do to get on the stage during the third round of debates in September: Poll at 2 percent or more and get 130,000 grassroots donors, including at least 400 from 20 different states.
And here’s the kicker: If the field doesn’t start shrinking, the DNC has said it will require candidates to meet both metrics.
And stay tuned for something fun to do on debate night.