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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Sat Aug 6, 2016, 03:55 PM Aug 2016

Third-party candidates in late push for debate stage

Source: The Hill

Third-party candidates are racing against the clock to meet the threshold to qualify for the presidential debate stage.

The first debate isn’t until Sept. 26 at Hostra University in Hempstead, N.Y., but the campaigns expect a decision on who makes the cut in early September, giving Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein about one month to hit the 15 percent national polling threshold.

The candidates and their campaigns are in an all-out sprint to boost their polling numbers ahead of that deadline.

Johnson and the Greens have surpassed one hurdle – both are routinely included in the polls that will determine who makes the stage after being left out of many polls earlier in the cycle. But reaching 15 percent in five national surveys leading up to the debate remains a steep climb for the underfunded and little-known third-party candidates.

-snip-

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/290598-third-party-candidates-in-late-push-for-debate-stage

7 replies

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Highlight:

Third-party candidates in late push for debate stage (Original Post) DonViejo Aug 2016 OP

Johnson might--Stein won't. book_worm Aug 2016 #1

Judge rejects suit against Presidential Debate Comm. Historic NY Aug 2016 #2

Minor Party candidates have no right to participate in debates they don't organize... brooklynite Aug 2016 #3

Don't really care about Johnson... tarheelsunc Aug 2016 #4

Trump ROCK2 Aug 2016 #5

Zero chance...15% is unattainable nationwide... beachbumbob Aug 2016 #6

Let me think about that..... paleotn Aug 2016 #7

book_worm

(15,951 posts)

1. Johnson might--Stein won't.

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Sat Aug 6, 2016, 04:03 PM

Aug 2016

Historic NY

(37,451 posts)

2. Judge rejects suit against Presidential Debate Comm.

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Sat Aug 6, 2016, 04:08 PM

Aug 2016

A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit alleging that the Commission on Presidential Debates violated federal antitrust laws and the First Amendment by excluding third-party candidates.

In a ruling Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer dismissed a suit filed last year by the Libertarian and Green parties as well their respective 2012 presidential nominees, former New Mexico Republican Gov. Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. Each also happens to be his or her party's presidential nominee again this year.

Collyer's ruling found little, if any, merit in the suit. She said antitrust law had no relevance to the situation and many of the ills the plaintiffs complained of were of their own making, not the debate commission.

"Plaintiffs in this case have not alleged a non-speculative injury traceable to the Commission," wrote Collyer, who was appointed by President George W. Bush. "Plaintiffs’ alleged injuries are wholly speculative and are dependent entirely on media coverage decisions. The alleged injuries––failure to receive media coverage and to garner votes, federal matching funds, and campaign contributions—were caused by the lack of popular support of the candidates and their parties sufficient to attract media attention."

Ron Nielson, Johnson’s campaign manager, said the campaign is considering an appeal but is also urging the commission to allow Johnson into the debates.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/08/judge-rejects-suit-against-presidential-debate-commission-226720

brooklynite

(94,598 posts)

3. Minor Party candidates have no right to participate in debates they don't organize...

Reply to Historic NY (Reply #2)

Sat Aug 6, 2016, 04:28 PM

Aug 2016

...and major Party candidate have no obligation to debate people they don't want to debate.

The Commission on Presidential Debates organize debates that the major candidates choose to participate in, but are under no legal obligation to participate in. There's no legal basis upon which other parties can demand that the rules for access be changed.