First the Democratic National Committee (DNC), added the Option, that if a Candidate gets One Pledged Delegate in the Iowa Caucuses, they will make the Next Debate in New Hampshire.
The Debate takes place on Feb. 7th, and will be held at St. Anslem College, just outside Manchester. It will be Co-Sponsored by ABC News, WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH, and Apple News.
Today, the DNC announced that Candidates can Meet Either a Delegates Threshold or a Polling Threshold to Qualify for the February Debate in Las Vegas, Dropping a Fundraising Requirement and Potentially paving the way for Michael Bloomberg to make another Stage for a Debate.
The Las Vegas Debate will take place on Feb. 19th, just Three Days before the Nevada Caucuses.
To Qualify, Candidates must have been Allocated at least One Pledged Delegate at the Iowa Caucuses or the New Hampshire Primary.
But even if a Candidate does Not Win any Delegates in One of the First Two Contests, they can Qualify by reaching 10% Support in at least Four Sanctioned National Polls or Surveys of South Carolina and Nevada Released between Jan. 15th and Feb. 18th.
Alternatively, a Candidate will Qualify for the Debate by reaching 12% Support in Two Sanctioned National or Early-State Polls.
Only Six Candidates Qualified for the Debate in Des Moines, Iowa: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Businessman Tom Steyer.
Bloomberg, the Former Three-Term Mayor of New York City, has Polled in Double-Digits in several Recent National Surveys. He has been Self-Funding his Campaign and so has Failed to Reach the Fundraising Thresholds for Previous Debates.
But now with that Barrier Removed, he might Join Democrats on Stage.
The Higher Polling Thresholds will make it very Difficult for Several Candidates going forward, unless they Build Momentum after the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary.
Businessman Andrew Yang and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) both Failed to Meet the Polling Requirements for the Debate in Iowa last month.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
