A spokesman for Hillary Clinton, Brian Fallon, on Wednesday criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as the only “holdout” who will not participate in an unsanctioned debate to be hosted by MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union-Leader in February.
“The Sanders campaign is the one hold out. We think they should join us in saying they will be in New Hampshire next week,” Fallon said on CNN.
Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, said on Tuesday that the Vermont senator would not attend a debate not sanctioned by the DNC due to concern that his participation would keep him from attending future official debates.
Clinton’s campaign said she would “participate in a debate in New Hampshire if the other candidates agree, which would allow the DNC to sanction the debate.” And former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said he would attend the unsanctioned debate.
The DNC said on Tuesday that the party would not sanction the Feb. 4 New Hampshire debate planned by MSNBC and the Union-Leader. The committee has faced criticism from the Sanders and O’Malley campaigns for limiting the number of debates to six. Some have speculated that the DNC limited the debates in an attempt to protect Clinton. Fallon addressed that criticism on Wednesday.
“That’s not true at all. Hillary Clinton consistently said she enjoys debating. I think it shows in all the debates. I think without exception she has performed really well at the debates. In the aftermath, everyone says this is really her place to shine because she is so substantive in these forums,” he said on CNN. “Now is an opportunity to put another one on the schedule. It is unclear why Sanders is the lone holdout.”
Clinton always does well in debates. I don’t understand why the DNC or the Clinton camp would have ever thought otherwise.
On the other hand, Bernie only ever benefits from more exposure. This whole back and forth is so weird.
Rewatching Maddow’s show last night. Bernie said with his own lips that he’s down if the other candidates are.
Well, politically speaking, the Clinton camp is playing this well. It’s a win-win for them. And it seems like a lot of people are eating it up.
Riiight…and give DWS exactly what she wants? Hell no. DNC can get off its ass and sanction it or he should continue to tell them to fuck off. This is kabuki theater as much as the Trump crap is, and something about it stinks to me when we’ve got that imbecile DWS still threatening to ban people from the sanctioned debates if they attend this one. Is MSNBC in cahoots with her? WTF?
HRC should joke, “Heck, I’d even take a FOX debate question now that they have an opening and need a ratings booster!”