Why was Gravel cut from last night's debate?
Gravel did not qualify to participate in Tuesday’s event under any of the three criteria set forward by NBC, a development that analyst Andy Smith of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center said makes it easier for other news organizations to do the same.
“The media will pull the plug on him. And they’ve been trying to do that for quite some time,” Smith said.
For a poorly funded campaign like Gravel’s, exposure in the debates provided invaluable free media that he cannot afford. Known for his strongly anti-war views, as well as quips and pithy one-liners, several media outlets labeled Gravel the “crazy uncle” of the eight-candidate Democratic field. But Gravel’s anemic fundraising was one of the reasons he was cut from the debate, said NBC Political Director Chuck Todd. As of Sept. 30 Gravel had raised $287,000, far below the news outlet’s $1 million threshold, one of three criteria for participating. NO other major candidate participating in either party’s debates has raised less than $2 million.
Even if a candidate has not raised $1 million, they could still participate if they have received 5 percent or more on recent polling in Iowa or New Hampshire, the sites of the first nominating contest, or if they have traveled to those states at least 14 times to campaign, Todd said of NBC’s rules.
This is eminently reasonable. If it was up to me, I'd cut Biden and Kucinich -- at the bottom (by far) in money raised and number of campaign appearances. It's probably no coincidence that those two have had as much of an impact on this race as Gravel, which is to say "none".
Still, Gravel's backers are furious:
Chase rejects the argument that fundraising is necessarily a barometer of success, pointing out the difference between correlation and causation, “By enforcing this kind of rule NBC is creating a causal relationship,” he said.
Meanwhile, Elliott Jacobson, national field director for Gravel’s campaign, said NBC’s decision was politically motivated. “We feel that the entire exercise is a form of censorship and a way to remove a candidate whose voice has attacked the military industrial complex,” he said.
Yawn. Yeah, Gravel's completely irrelevant attacks on the "military industrial complex" are what kept him out, not the fact that he's had ZERO impact on this race or that it's about time -- with the primaries just about two months away -- to give the real candidates more time to make their case to the voters.
No one has a god-given right to be on that stage. You should have to earn it. And the way to earn it -- especially this deep into the campaign cycle -- is by having bona fide support. If you're building support, then fantastic -- get a spot on the stage. Otherwise, any joker who claims he's running for president would be entitled to a stage presence. Like this guy, or this guy.
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