DNC Agrees To Hold Additional Presidential Debates

Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, center, answers a question as presidential candidates, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, right and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley listen, during the NBC, YouTube Dem... Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, center, answers a question as presidential candidates, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, right and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley listen, during the NBC, YouTube Democratic presidential debate at the Gaillard Center, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. NBC moderators Lester Holt and Andrea Mitchell are at right. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) MORE LESS
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Democratic National Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement Sunday that it would sanction additional presidential debates after the party’s frontrunners lobbied for more.

It was reported Saturday that Democratic frontrunners Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Hillary Clinton would participate in additional debates if the DNC agreed to sanction them.

“Our Democratic candidates have agreed in principle to having the DNC
sanction and manage additional debates in our primary schedule,
inclusive of New Hampshire this week,” Wasserman Schultz said in the statement. “However, absent agreement on the details, we will give our campaigns the space to focus on the important work of engaging caucus goers in Iowa.”

Campaigns for Sanders and Clinton had agreed to participate in four additional debates. Wasserman Schultz said the DNC would finalize additional debate details and conditions on Tuesday.

“Any additional debates will be held on top of our existing February 11th debate with PBS News Hour and our March 9th debate with Univision and the Washington Post,” Wasserman Schultz said in the statement. “We have consistently worked with our campaigns to ensure a schedule that is both robust and allows our candidates to engage with voters in a variety of ways, whether through debates, forums, or town halls, while also leaving them the flexibility to attend county fairs and living room conversations for the direct voter contact that matters so much in the early states. Those
principles will continue to guide these negotiations.”

MSNBC had announced it would host a debate on Thursday from New Hampshire with host Rachel Maddow and Chuck Todd moderating.

This post has been updated.

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