O’Malley pushes to add second NH debate

According to emails obtained by NH1,  Martin O’Malley's New Hampshire campaign organizers reached out to their counterparts in the Bernie Sanders campaign, urging them to support O’Malley’s call for an additional New Hampshire debate before the primary on February 9. Sanders is currently hot on the heels of frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the polls, with O’Malley trailing a distant third.

The official Democratic National Committee (DNC) debate schedule includes six debates in total. Only one was scheduled in New Hampshire, and took place on December 19. DNC spokespeople have stated that candidates who participate in unsanctioned debates will be subject to harsh penalties come convention time. In the 2008 cycle, the committee sanctioned 25 debates.

Supporters of O’Malley’s proposal argue that the existing debate schedule favors the current frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, and note that the December 19 debate, held on a Saturday in the run-up to the holiday season, garnered very low ratings compared to other presidential debates held this year.

Opponents counter that the existing DNC schedule gives candidates ample opportunity to make their case to voters, and point out that there is already another debate scheduled before the February 9 primary, on January 17 in Charleston, South Carolina.