Media Calls for More debates than CPD's Three
In what will likely be a chorus of editorials and pundits endorsing a general election breakaway from the three scheduled Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) debates the USA Today editorialized on Tuesday, May 27.
[T]there's no reason they [CPD debates] have to be the only times the candidates share a stage; this year they might not be.
The USA editorial cites as precedence the Lincoln/Douglas debate and an almost tour of Kennedy and Goldwater stopped by events in Dallas.
The rational for the debate series is not well developed in their endorsement, but a chorus of voices begins to pave the way for overturning an outdated CPD monopoly. They argue that Obama and McCain and voter interest demands innovation in format and opportunity.
They conclude:
The uneven quality of the debates during the primary season showed the need for alternative formats. Joint appearances would elevate the tone of the campaign and benefit voters.
Surely there are political risks in even an elevated join-tour, but the possibilities for signaling a change in the system has to appeal to both camps.
The three scheduled CPD debates are: Sept. 26 in Oxford, Miss., Oct. 7 in Nashville and Oct. 15 in Hempstead, N.Y.
