Let the thirdparties debate?

By Jon Dougherty

Nearly half of Americans polled in a new survey said Green Party
presidential candidate Ralph Nader should be included in nationally
televised presidential debates — a finding that is not likely to find
comfort in the campaign of Democratic nominee Al Gore — and nearly as
many said Reform Party nominee Patrick J. Buchanan should also attend.

According to a

Portrait of America
poll, published Friday, 43 percent of respondents said Nader should be included in the debates. Forty percent said Buchanan should be included as well.

However, Federal Election Commission rules state that to be included in the nationally televised debates, presidential contenders must pull at least 15 percent in a series of national polls.

Both Nader and Buchanan have consistently polled under 5 percent in most recognized polls since the election season began last fall.

In an

earlier POA telephone survey,
46 percent of respondents believed all four candidates — Bush, Gore, Nader and Buchanan — should have a crack at each other in front of the American electorate.

“Republicans and Democrats, happy their candidates are already in the debates, are least supportive of a more inclusive debate format,” analysts said. “Among independent voters, 59 percent say Nader belongs at the podium with Bush and Gore. Fifty-three percent of independents say Buchanan should be in the big show as well.”

Yet, POA found that only 24 percent of likely voters believed an all-inclusive debate would have much influence over their eventual vote. Of that number, 16 percent are Republicans and 29 percent are Democrats.

The Democratic figure, poll analysts said, could reflect “a belief among Democrats the best hope for their man may come in the debates.”

Analysts and political pundits have speculated that Gore is better prepared and more experienced in such formats and would likely best Bush — and others — in a debate format.

Dogging the vice president, however, is his reputation for being “wooden.” Republican strategists have suggested that Bush is more amiable and would “come off” better than expected.

Meanwhile, Reform’s Buchanan has been the most vocal in support of an all-inclusive debate format. In fact, his campaign has stated it would file suit in federal court if Buchanan was not allowed to appear in the debates.

Rasmussen Research conducted the telephone survey of 1,000 likely voters on Aug. 16. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points, with a 95 percent level of confidence.


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Who should be included in the debates?

Jon Dougherty

Jon E. Dougherty is a Missouri-based political science major, author, writer and columnist. Follow him on Twitter. Read more of Jon Dougherty's articles here.