The Democratic National Committee revealed plans on Thursday to hold six presidential debates starting this October, with the first scheduled on Oct. 13 in Nevada. The Republicans had their first debate in Cleveland. On the other hand the Democrats has unveiled plans to hold their debates on a far less crowded schedule.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee are, so far, scheduled to participate in the officially endorsed meetings.
Vice President Joe Biden's staff has been kept informed about the scheduling but has yet to commit on attending, according to some Democrats. They preferred not to be named because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private dialogues. There has been speculations that Biden might challenge Clinton, but he has not announced to his staff or to the public his decision to run. DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz says, "There's always room for the sitting vice president if he chooses to run. In fact, there's room for anyone at this point."
Four debates have been scheduled in early primary states before the Iowa caucuses on the first of February. But it is a number considered too little by candidates who are challenging Clinton for the nomination. Meanwhile, the dates for the final two debates have not been set but the committee says it will be held in Wisconsin and Miami in February or March.
Aside from the October meetings, debates will be held Nov. 14 in Des Moines, Iowa; Dec. 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Jan. 17 in Charleston, South Carolina.
The debates, Wasserman Schultz said, will "give caucusgoers and primary voters ample opportunity to hear from our candidates about their vision for our country's future."
