Look for the Democratic National Committee to sanction a Democratic debate on Feb. 4 in New Hampshire, their partner will be MSNBC and New Hampshire Union Leader. This is a key part of the campaign as the primary is just over a week away. All three candidates want and in some ways need the debate as Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley look to expand the number of times voters get to see them face-off.
News Talk Florida expects that the debate moderators would be Meet the Press host Chuck Todd and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. There may be a spot for a moderator from the Union Leader, at the moment that has not been decided.
According to Politico, Clinton and Sanders’ campaigns have agreed in principle to attend four more debates, starting with the proposed New Hampshire event next week, a Clinton campaign aide confirmed Saturday — but an exchange of statements on Saturday called the Feb. 4 date into question.
There could be four new debates, one in February, one in March, one in April, and one in May and at the moment details are still being ironed out, and no dates or locations have been solidified.
The step forward came after days of wrangling in public and behind the scenes, as the two major Democratic candidates sought to pressure each other on the topic of adding debates.
Sanders responded by proposing the additional debates, which now seem likely to occur if the DNC signs on. The committee would have to waive its exclusivity clause that precludes candidates from appearing in unsanctioned debates and bars them from joining the official events if they do.
The next official debate is in Milwaukee on February 11, two days after the New Hampshire primary.