Sanders Asks For Four DNC Sanctioned Debates- Not On Friday, Saturday, or Holidays

Coming out of his recent silence with relation to additional debates, Bernie Sanders relayed through his campaign that he would in fact join Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton for debates. Adding caveats as Clinton had previously, Sanders asked for four DNC sanctioned debates. The debates would need to be pre-schedulednot on a Friday or Saturday, and could not be on holiday weekends.

Below are the announced positions for each candidate. None are what the candidate said in totality. To see what each said look at their original releases over the past few days.


Governor Martin O’Malley’s New Hampshire State Director Statement – January 26th

Today is a big victory not only for our campaign and our supporters that championed this effort, but it is also a victory for voters across New Hampshire and the United States.  We look forward to participating.

Secretary Hillary Clinton Remarks on MSNBC’s Hardball – January 27th 

Look, I’m ready for the debate and I hope Senator Sanders will change his mind and join us. I think the DNC and the campaigns should be able to work this out. I've been for, you know, for a long time, that I'd be happy to have more debates and I hope we can get this done.

I would like the chairman of the party and the campaigns to agree we can debate in New Hampshire next week.

Senator Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Manager’s Statement – January 27th 

From the beginning of this campaign Sen. Sanders has called for more debates. Secretary Clinton has not. Now she is asking to change the rules to schedule a debate next week that is not sanctioned by the DNC. Why is that? The answer is obvious. The dynamics of the race have changed and Sen. Sanders has significant momentum. Sen. Sanders is happy to have more debates but we are not going to schedule them on an ad hoc basis at the whim of the Clinton campaign. If Secretary Clinton wants more debates that’s great. We propose three additional debates. One in March, April and May and none on a Friday, Saturday or holiday weekend. And all of the three Democratic candidates must be invited. If the Clinton campaign will commit to this schedule, we would ask the DNC to arrange a debate in New Hampshire on Feb. 4.