Louisiana Gov. Bobbby Jindal (R) suggested that the that the fewer presidential debates in the 2016 cycle compared to the 2012 cycle may not actually help the GOP’s eventual nominee.
Jindal’s comments at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast on Monday come almost a month after the Republican National Committee announced about a dozen debates in the next cycle. That’s a reduction from 2012 when there were more than 27 debates.
Jindal said there’s a view among operatives and DC insiders that “that if we could just have fewer debates, if we could have a gentler, kinder nominating process that would be good for the party and good for the nominee,” Jindal said. “Well you know what? Democracy is messy and the donors, the political leaders, the establishment pundits, they don’t get to pick our nominee.”
Jindal added that “yes it’s messy, yes it’s tough but I think it’s better to have voters make the choice.”
“It’s better to have an open, honest debate and discussion,” Jindal said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to work. And by the way a longer nominating process, a tougher nominating process didn’t seem to hurt then-Sen. Obama when he was running against then-Sen. Clinton.”
Photo credit: Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor
