Democratic Debate Rule Change Could Open Stage to Bloomberg
- Candidates will now qualify for debates with 10% in four polls
- Bloomberg’s rivals want billionaire to face debate questions
Michael Bloomberg
Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The Democratic Party has changed requirements for candidates to earn a spot on the presidential debate stage, a move that could mean Michael Bloomberg will face his rivals for the nomination for the first time. The changes could also knock some other candidates off.
The change will eliminate the current fund-raising requirement, which has kept the former New York mayor out of the debates to date, but also raises the polling threshold to 10% in four approved polls. Bloomberg has yet to meet that mark in a single approved poll. He is now at 8.2% in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls.