Level the Playing Field: Annenberg Report Validates Need for CPD to Change Debate Access Rules

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The head of an organization that advocates opening the fall presidential debates to one independent candidate expressed disappointment today that the Annenberg Debate Reform Working Group (AWG) failed to recommend changing the current rule that effectively excludes a third participant from being allowed in the debates.

"The problem with the debates can't be solved with a chess clock.  We need to change the rules about who gets into the game," said Cara Brown McCormick, president of Level the Playing Field, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that supports the creation of debate criteria that will allow an independent candidate to qualify for the debates sufficiently in advance of the election. 

"The Annenberg report confirms that by a large majority, Americans want to open the debates for a healthier democracy. We commend this esteemed group for its recommendations on changes to debate format, but it's just a shame that they did not deal with the most important format change of all – one that would allow for an independent candidate to participate in the fall debates," McCormick continued. "We were hoping they would take the next logical step and demand that the Commission on Presidential Debates stop protecting the current duopoly with its exclusionary rule." 

The current debate access rule, used by the CPD since 2000, is biased and illegal. Since 1960, not a single candidate who did not run in a major party primary has polled at 15 percent in mid-September, when the polls must be taken according to the CPD's current rule.   

The Annenberg Working Group (AWG) cited powerful research by Peter D. Hart that shows 56 percent of Americans agree with the statement:

"The rules for a third-party candidate inclusion should be relaxed so that it is easier for them to be part of the debate. Even if it is unlikely that they will win the presidency, it would make the major candidates respond to their ideas."  In addition, the Hart research found that "47 percent oppose limiting 'the debates to the two major party candidates unless a third-party candidate can exceed 15% in the polls.'"  The AWG, in its report, also noted that a record 42 percent of Americans say they are independents, compared with just 31 percent identifying themselves as Democrats and 25 percent as Republicans.

"Peter Hart produced powerful evidence demonstrating the hunger for a rule change," said McCormick of Level the Playing Field, "but unfortunately the working group punted on a solution."

As the report stated:  "Because a consensus could not be reached on the issue, the Working Group did not make a recommendation in the area of third party participation in debates."

McCormick suggested the Working Group's composition was probably the main factor behind its inability to recommend broader access to the debate stage. All of these groups are dominated by players from the two major parties with a vested interest in promoting major party candidates.  "This Working Group is bi-partisan.  The Commission on Presidential Debates is bi-partisan.  And the Federal Election Commission is bi-partisan. It should be no surprise to any of us that they have been unable to come up with a non-partisan solution that allows for independent candidates to compete."

While independents may have no meaningful representation in any of these groups, the law is totally clear: debate rules are supposed to be objective, non-partisan, and cannot lead to a pre-determined outcome. "Instead," McCormick said, "the current debate rule is designed to maximize the uncertainty of an independent's participation in the debates. It stifles a candidate's ability to gain name recognition. It perpetuates the duopoly and disincentivizes great Americans from running for President.  The rule is not only bad for our democracy, it is also illegal." 

Level the Playing Field supports a simple rule change that would enable a candidate to qualify for the debates by some means other than polling and is resolved by April 30 - sufficiently in advance of the election. "Until this rule is changed, Americans might see a chess clock, but they won't see an independent in the debates.  It will remain the status quo: Democrats and Republicans only," McCormick said.

Level the Playing Field is a nonpartisan, nonprofit corporation not affiliated with any candidate or candidate committee.  Its purpose is to promote reforms that allow for greater competition and choice in elections.   For more information, visit www.ChangeTheRule.org.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Heaton, 202-725-8785, [email protected]

SOURCE Level the Playing Field

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