Nader or any others in debates?

[TommyC1776]

Does anybody think they should allow Ralph Nader in the presidential debates?  I think they should.  I mean the debates should be allowed to every presidential candidate even if there chances to win would be slim to none.

[Lunar]

I don't until there is a system where one of them can win.  Perot was allowed because he was polling above 15% and that's enough.

The debates are to help voters decide who to vote for, not to listen to people talk.  I'm more than willing to stop Bradnarik and Nader from entering in order to listen to the serious candidates for three times as much.

[MODU]

I've mentioned this on another thread:

To become a serious presidential candidate, I would say they need to be on the ballot in at least 40 states.  Any candidate who is able to get onto that many ballots should be allocated the same respect and privellages as the Democrats and Republicans, including access to the debates.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

I think that in the first debate, every candidate who is on enough ballots to win should be included in the debate.  

After that first debate, you should need 15% (or mayber 10%) popular vote support to be in the other ones.

[ATFFL]

I think that in the first debate, every candidate who is on enough ballots to win should be included in the debate.  

After that first debate, you should need 15% (or mayber 10%) popular vote support to be in the other ones.

But then how do we decide 10%?  Which poll do we use?

[MODU]

That's why I recommend basing it off of how many state ballots they are on.  In order to be a serious contender, you have to have access to at least 40 states.  That would weed out all these one-state candidates.  I'd have to search for the link, but there are over 50 Presidential Candidates so far this year, on numerous parties or as independents.  Imagine the chaos of running a debate with that many people, and then trying to weed out the top 10%.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

I think that in the first debate, every candidate who is on enough ballots to win should be included in the debate.  

After that first debate, you should need 15% (or mayber 10%) popular vote support to be in the other ones.

But then how do we decide 10%?  Which poll do we use?

In 2000, I think the debate commission already decided to use an average of five different polls...or maybe you just had to hit 15% on one of the five, but they used more than one poll.

You can't have six candidates in every debate...look at the Democratic primary debates.  Including Sharpton and Kucinich early on was fine, but at some point they were just distracting and eating time.

[© tweed]

No!  Look at the later Dem Primary debates.