10 Have Qualified For The 3rd Debate (And That's Enough)

So far, ten candidates have qualified for the third Democratic presidential nomination debate on September 12th. The candidates who have qualified are in the graphic to the left.

It is possible that one (maybe two) candidates can qualify by the Wednesday deadline (8/28/19). Tom Steyer needs one more poll showing him at 2%, and Tulsi Gabbard needs two more polls. Both have met the donor limit.

If either Steyer or Gabbard (or both) are able to qualify, then the candidates will be divided and a second debate will be held on September 13th. Even if they don't, it is possible that they (and others) could qualify for the fourth debate in October (which has the same qualifications).

Frankly, I hope no one else qualifies. Ten candidates is plenty for the third and fourth debates. Four candidates (Eric Swalwell, Seth Moulton, John Hickenlooper, and Jay Inslee) have dropped out of the race. It's time for about ten more to do the same.

Some of the candidates that didn't qualify for this debate are complaining that the rules are unfair to them. I don't agree. If anything, the rules are too generous. Anyone who can't get 130,000 donors and 2% in four different polls doesn't belong in the race. They should look to themselves for the failure of their campaigns -- not the generous rules laid down by the DNC.