Any guesses about whether the DNC will have the October debate on two nights, now that

[highplainsdem]

Steyer has qualified so there'll be 11 candidates?

[LincolnRossiter]

1. According to their stated policy, there will indeed be two nights.

DNC said they wouldn’t have more than 10 on stage at a time.

[highplainsdem]

2. So another drawing to see who's debating on which night?

This is going to be interesting.

I'd seen some tweets suggesting that since it's only 11 candidates, they still might have the debate on one night.

Here's one of those tweets, from the NY Times' Matt Stevens, saying no decision has been made:

Link to tweet

[mainstreetonce]

3. Maybe someone else will drop out

Before Oct?

[highplainsdem]

6. Of those who qualified? Probably not. I wouldn't be surprised if more candidates who

hadn't qualified dropped out.

[not_the_one]

4. There should be two nights anyway.

Trying to get attention and a point across by ten people, just doesn't work.

It becomes more about interrupting and over shouting the other candidates, and that doesn't make ANYONE look good.

[highplainsdem]

5. I agree, but they'd probably get more viewers for a single-night event. I imagine ABC is making

that point to the DNC.

[LincolnRossiter]

7. I agree on the two nights/fewer candidates on stage, but I really wish it weren't random.

Watching candidates at 2% try to score points by snipping at candidates in the teens, 20s, and 30s just seems pointless. Let the heavyweights engage each other and let the lower-polling candidates try to stand out amongst themselves.

[highplainsdem]

8. The DNC does NOT want a "kids' table" debate with the less popular candidates. They've made that

clear.

https://www.vox.com/2019/6/12/18660068/democratic-debates-2019-candidates-rules-lineup

[LincolnRossiter]

9. Yeah I know. That doesn't disabuse me of the right to an opinion.

NT.

[highplainsdem]

10. Sorry. Didn't mean to suggest you or anyone else didn't have a right to wish they did things

differently..

FWIW, I'm not sure the debates have been any help at all so far.

They don't seem to have provided any breakout moments for lower-tier candidates.

And I don't like seeing the front-runner viewed as a political pinata to be attacked from all sides in the hope his campaign will fall apart and the other candidates can scoop up his supporters.

It also looked really bad to have some attacks on the Obama administration in the last debate.

[LincolnRossiter]

11. No worries. And you and I are 100% on the same page with respect to the debates, Biden, and the

conduct of the media and some other candidates in this cycle thus far.

Hopefully it all shakes out well.