Subject: RE: Politico - The sun is setting on the final planned Democratic primary debate
From: Erik Smith <[email-masked]>
To: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>, Debbie Wasserman Schultz <[email-masked]>, "Dacey, Amy" <[email-masked]>, Jessica Borchert <[email-masked]>, "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>, "Tracie Pough" <[email-masked]>, Kate Houghton <[email-masked]>, Lindsey Reynolds <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 15:13:20 +0000

I suspect Sanders will start hearing form cable networks now.  This story might change the trajectory a little.

From: Paustenbach, Mark [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 11:08 AM
To: Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Dacey, Amy; Erik Smith; Jessica Borchert; Miranda, Luis; Tracie Pough; Kate Houghton; Lindsey Reynolds
Subject: Politico - The sun is setting on the final planned Democratic primary debate

The sun is setting on the final planned Democratic primary debate<http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/05/wherefore-art-thou-final-democratic-debate-223095>
POLITICO
By Hadas Gold
05/12/16

Back in February<http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-debates-michigan-california-218691> the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders campaigns agreed to extend the Democratic debate schedule by four more debates.

Three have been held, but the final debate, to be held in California in May according to the agreement, doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast. There are 19 days left in May, and the California primary is on June 7.

At the moment there have been few if any discussions about a date, location, or network agreed upon between the campaigns and the Democratic National Committee, multiple sources said.

The Sanders campaign has not been in negotiations with the Clinton campaign or the DNC, and is waiting for a cable network to come forward to offer a location and a primetime slot, a Sanders adviser said on background. Spokesman Michael Briggs said they're trying to 'nail down a date and location' but would only say that there 'have been discussions' when asked for specifics.

The last Democratic debate<http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/sanders-accepts-april-14-debate-with-clinton-221556>, hosted by CNN in Brooklyn, came together just ten days before through a rather public negotiation, which the Sanders adviser said they expect to happen again. All three cable networks have expressed interest, the adviser said, but none have specifically come forward with a time or place. (Cable networks this season have been spending tidy sums to reserve locations on different dates and in different cities that could be used for possible debates or town halls). The Sanders campaign has often gone around the DNC in debate negotiations, and even sought to exclude<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/bernie-sanders-dnc-democratic-debate-221616> the DNC from the Brooklyn debate last month.

"As voters in the remaining states and territories make up their minds about the future of the Democratic Party, I believe they deserve a chance to compare my record and Secretary 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. Secretary Clinton's campaign already has agreed to another debate in California. I hope that we can soon settle on a date and place for that debate," Sanders said on Tuesday night after winning the West Virginia primary.

Asked about the negotiations for an upcoming debate or whether one is still in the works, DNC spokesman Luis Miranda said there was 'no update at this time."

A Clinton campaign spokesman declined to comment.

Mark Paustenbach
National Press Secretary &
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
W: 202.863.8148
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>