In the September 22 U.S. News & World Report, independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader announced that "in the coming weeks, a third-party debate is set to take place."
Nader was contributing to a symposium on, "Should Third-Party Candidates Enter Debates?". Former Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) co-chair Newton Minow took the negative. Nader argued in favor, titling his contribution, "Open the Debates for Third Party Candidates Like Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney and Me." (1)
A Zogby poll done in August showed a majority -- 55% -- wanting Libertarian Bob Barr included in the presidential debates. 46% wanted Nader included. (2)
Four years ago, according to Nader, those numbers were even higher: "In a 2004 Zogby poll, 57 percent of Americans said that third parties should be included in the debates."
Nader proposed: "Given the huge barriers to getting on state ballots, a fair and manageable standard would be that anyone on enough ballots to have a theoretical chance to win should be allowed in the debates—six candidates this year." He then issued a challenge:
I challenge the two parties to take a baby step: In the coming weeks, a third-party debate is set to take place. Will McCain and Obama allow the winner, as voted by viewers, into their last debate?
Nader gave no further details.
Besides McCain and Obama (on the ballots in at least 49 states), the candidates with a mathematical chance to win an Electoral College majority are Nader (on in 45 states), Barr (at least 44), Green nominee McKinney (32 states), and Constitution candidate Chuck Baldwin (37). (3)
(H/t to Walt Thiessen: former GOP presidential contender Ron Paul endorsed Baldwin Sep. 22.)
Like several others, I recently suggested a televised third-party presidential debate. (4) I am glad to see that it appears to be becoming a reality. Inspired by that outcome, let me make some further suggestions as to format:
There should be three debates. The candidate with the least votes, as voted by the TV audience, should be eliminated in each of the first two. In the third, the two remaining candidates would compete for the chance to debate McCain and Obama in their final debate. (The show could not guarantee that, but it could use its audience -- potentially millions of viewers -- to demand it.)
We'll see what happens.
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UPDATE, Sep. 27: I believe I have the details of what Nader was referring to. Please read:
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(1) Ralph Nader, "Nader: Open the Debates for Third Party Candidates Like Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney and Me," U.S. News & World Report, Sep. 22, 2008. http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2008/09/22/nader-open-the-debates- for-third-party-candidates-like-bob-barr-cynthia-mckinney-and-me.html
(2) George Dance, "Barrwatch -- Zogby has Barr at 6% again," Nolan Chart, Aug. 17, 2008. http://www.nolanchart.com/article4518.html
(3) Ben Adler, "Nader, Barr muscle onto the Nov. ballots," Politico, Sep. 19, 2008. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13595.html
(4) George Dance, "Ron Paul is not running for President," Nolan Chart, Sep. 7, 2008. http://www.nolanchart.com/article4749.html
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Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Last modified: Saturday, September 27, 2008
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: Ron Ralph
Date: 2008-09-23 16:04:23
A sea change as citizens see their savings disappear.
nader paul kucinich gravel
Open the damn debates!
mckinney ventura
perot charts
RATM
Posted By: George Dance
Date: 2008-09-23 18:38:43
There is a third-party debate Oct. 6, with announced representation from the Boston Tea Party, the Prohibition Party, and at least one of the Socialist parties. But it seems reasonable to think that Nader was talking about a debate between candidates who meet his "fair and manageable standard."
Posted By: Walt Thiessen
Date: 2008-09-24 06:20:58
A simple acknowledgement that Paul endorsed Baldwin? That's your entire commentary on that major event in the world of third-party politics?
Once again, I reiterate: the Barr campaign is over and done with for all practical intents and purposes.
Posted By: George Dance
Date: 2008-09-25 20:10:40
Gimme a break, Walt. That's one of a dozen articles-in-progess I've got going right now, ranging from a month old - Palin's Bridge to Nowhere record - to today - I just learned about McCain suspending his campaign and pulling out of the first debate. Basically they're getting started way faster than they're getting written.
If I'm going to say anything at all in a relevant period of time, I might just have to what I did with "Snubgate," and just dump my sources on line. Hey ... that's not a bad idea; this really is a continuation of "Snubgate," after all; I can call it Snubgate part 3 or s/t....
Posted By: RSDavis
Date: 2008-09-26 00:08:24
Interesting stuff, George. Is this debate a done-deal, or have they just created an exploratory committee to gague the public's reaction to the idea that they might consider discussing having a 3rd Party debate at some point in the future?
I would totally be interested in watching that. Barr is going to be doing a real-time debate on reason.tv, where he'll answer the same questions and respond to what Obama and McCain say in the monopoly debate, but for some reason, I have a short attention span for internet TV.
- Rick
Posted By: True Debates
Date: 2008-09-26 10:25:16
The 1992 Presidential Debates with Ross Perot were not dull. His warnings have now come true. Replace John McCain with Ron Paul. Add Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Barack Obama must earn his victory, not win by default.
Washington University '81
Posted By: George Dance
Date: 2008-09-27 12:13:41
Is this debate a done-deal, or have they just created an exploratory committee
I didn't have any details when I first saw your comment. I've tried tracking it down, and believe that this is what Nader was talking about:
http://www.nolanchart.com/article5032.html
(I added a permanent link as an update to this article.)
Unfortunately, at this time it does look to be internet-only; though that can (and I think, has to) change, for reasons I explain.