It looks like Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Gary Johnson can all agree on one thing – the 15% threshold to let a presidential candidate on the debate stage is too high.
The video, “Good Points,” plays two clips – one of Trump back in 2000 commenting how the two parties don’t want anyone else “trying to knock off the Democrats and Republicans,” which is why they create the 15% threshold.
Then from MSNBC’s Meet the Press this past weekend, Chuck Todd asked Bernie Sanders if he thought 15% was fair. Sanders commented, “It’s probably too high.”
According to its website, "the 15 percent threshold best balanced the goal of being sufficiently inclusive to invite those candidates considered to be among the leading candidates, without being so inclusive that invitations would be extended to candidates with only very modest levels of public support, thereby jeopardizing the voter education purposes of the debates."
However, public opinion seems to contradict its statement. The Morning Consult found that 52% of voters want to see Johnson on the debate stage.
The video, “Good Points,” plays two clips – one of Trump back in 2000 commenting how the two parties don’t want anyone else “trying to knock off the Democrats and Republicans,” which is why they create the 15% threshold.
Then from MSNBC’s Meet the Press this past weekend, Chuck Todd asked Bernie Sanders if he thought 15% was fair. Sanders commented, “It’s probably too high.”
Commission on Presidential Debates’ 15%
The Commission on Presidential Debates, the organization in charge of the general election debates, has kept the 15% threshold in place since 2000.According to its website, "the 15 percent threshold best balanced the goal of being sufficiently inclusive to invite those candidates considered to be among the leading candidates, without being so inclusive that invitations would be extended to candidates with only very modest levels of public support, thereby jeopardizing the voter education purposes of the debates."
However, public opinion seems to contradict its statement. The Morning Consult found that 52% of voters want to see Johnson on the debate stage.