Iowa Dem leaders: Limited debates suggest Clinton favoritism

Leaders from Democratic Party organizations across Iowa on Wednesday called on the Democratic National Committee to allow additional presidential debates ahead of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses Feb. 1.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters sponsored by an advocacy group calling itself Allow Debate, four county chairpersons argued that additional debates would help candidates, voters and the Democratic Party ahead of the 2016 election.

“Local Democrats here want to see our candidates address the issues that are likely to confront the next president not just in soundbites or press releases or other things that they generate, but in a thorough, rigorous debate format,” said Kurt Meyer, the Democratic Party chairman for Mitchell County and the Tri-County Democrats organization in northeast Iowa. “These debates would give voters a chance to size up the candidates, and I think more debates will lead to more informed and engaged voters.”

The DNC has announced six official debates among the party’s presidential candidates – including four scheduled ahead of the Iowa caucuses. The first of these will take place on Oct. 13 in Nevada. The only debate in Iowa is scheduled for Nov. 14 in Des Moines.

Several Democratic candidates have signaled openness to additional debates, although the effort has been driven hardest by former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who has lagged behind former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders so far in the race.

Of the four activists who participated in the conference call on Wednesday, one – Larry Hogden of Cedar County – is supporting O’Malley while the others said they were undecided.

Several acknowledged, though, that the DNC’s decision to hold just six debates could at least have the appearance of showing favoritism toward Clinton, the frontrunner.

“Even if it’s not intentional, it would certainly appear that the DNC is showing favoritism to Hillary by not scheduling a lot of debates,” Hogden said. “What they’re doing is hurting the Democratic Party in the process. They’re more worried about protecting somebody than they are building up party overall.”

Hogden added, “Hillary has nothing to lose by debating and I think the Democratic Party has much to gain. If we want to be in a position to win the 2016 election, not matter who our candidate is, we need to do everything we can to promote the Democratic Party and its ideals.”

In response, DNC spokesman TJ Helmstetter released a statement to The Des Moines Register on Wednesday reiterating the committee's support for a six-debate schedule.

"We believe that six debates will give plenty of opportunity for the candidates to be seen side-by-side," Helmstetter said. "I’m sure there will be lots of other forums for the candidates to make their case to voters, and that the candidates will make the most out of every opportunity."

A spokesman for Clinton's campaign, meanwhile, noted recent remarks from the candidate indicating she would participate in additional debates if they were sanctioned by the DNC.

The other county chairs on the Allow Debate call were Marcia Fulton, of Union County, and Taylor Van De Krol, of Jasper County.