Subject: Re: update on May debate...
From: Erik Smith <[email-masked]>
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
Cc: Debbie Wasserman Schultz <[email-masked]>, "Dacey, Amy" <[email-masked]>, Lindsey Reynolds <[email-masked]>, Lisa Garcia <[email-masked]>, Tracie Pough <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 11:58:12 +0000

Thanks I'll reach out to them.

On May 3, 2016, at 10:23 PM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:

Sanders camp pushing for the debate:

Begin forwarded message:
From: Michael Briggs <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Date: May 3, 2016 at 10:15:09 PM EDT
To: <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: NEWS: Sanders Statement on Indiana Primary Win
Reply-To: Michael Briggs <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>

Sanders Statement on Indiana Primary Win

May 3, 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs (802) 233-8653

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement on Tuesday after The Associated Press projected that he won the Indiana primary:

"I want to thank the people of Indiana for the great upset victory that they gave us tonight. This is the 18th state that we have won, and we expect more victories in the weeks to come.

"The Clinton campaign thinks this campaign is over. They're wrong. Maybe it's over for the insiders and the party establishment, but the voters in Indiana had a different idea. The campaign wasn't over for them. It isn't over for the voters in West Virginia. It isn't over for Democrats in Oregon, New Jersey and Kentucky. It isn't over for voters in California and all the other states with contests still to come.

"We understand that we have an uphill climb to victory but we have been fighting uphill from the first day of this campaign. We are in this campaign to win and we're going to fight until the last vote is cast. There is nothing I would like more than to take on and defeat Donald Trump, someone who must never become president of this country.

"The voters in the remaining contests deserve a chance to compare my record and Hillary Clinton's record on creating jobs, raising the minimum wage, war and peace, the need for health care for all, breaking up big banks, combating climate change and other critical issues. To help voters make the best-informed choice possible, I hope that Secretary Clinton will agree to a date and place for a debate in California."
###

Paid for by Bernie 2016

PO Box 905 - Burlington, Vermont 05402, United States

<http://www.democrats.org/>Luis Miranda, Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202-863-8148 - [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]> - @MiraLuisDC<https://www.twitter.com/MiraLuisDC>

From: Erik Smith [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 3:00 PM
To: Miranda, Luis
Cc: Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Dacey, Amy; Lindsey Reynolds; Lisa Garcia; Tracie Pough
Subject: Re: update on May debate...

Sure I can do that.

I suspect the Sanders campaign would use any condition from us as an excuse not to work with dnc. Then it would just be a matter of whether or not Clinton blinks like Sanders did in NH with MSNBC.

Let me know how you would like me to proceed.

On May 2, 2016, at 2:33 PM, Miranda, Luis <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
Thanks Erik. Is there a way we can lay a marker down in terms of dates so we don't come down to the wire again? It's hard for any network to get traction on these tight turnarounds, and it isn't great for us either. Should we consider a deadline or at least suggest that we have a next round of conversations by x date and shoot to have it finalized no less than 10 days out, for example? It could be used as an excuse for either of the campaigns to back out, which can be good or bad.

From: Erik Smith [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 2:25 PM
To: Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Dacey, Amy; Miranda, Luis; Lindsey Reynolds; Lisa Garcia; Tracie Pough
Subject: update on May debate...

I know you guys haven't heard from me in a while, but Jess and I have been trying to move the ball forward without much success.

Enclosed is our update:

Sanders:  I have been in touch with Sanders telling them we would like to work with them to schedule a DNC-sponsored debate.  Mark Longabaugh responded with the following last week:  "Erik, let me get with the team and discuss.  Thanks for reaching out.  Best, Mark"

Clinton:  Charlie told me the Clinton position is they will not participate in any debate without DNC sponsorship.  They want the May debate to be scheduled and coordinated by the DNC.  I have not shared that with Sanders camp yet, I'm waiting on them to come back after they discuss internally.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks,

Erik