Will anyone watch?
Democrats aligned with Sanders and Martin O’Malley have long been angry at the DNC and the networks about the debate schedule, which they say is designed to protect Clinton through low viewership. And this third debate, coming the Saturday night before Christmas, is a prime example, they’ve said.
While Sanders’ attempt to ignite a fire under his base on Friday could goose the numbers, most party leaders are still skeptical that the event will move the ball demonstrably unless any one candidate makes a howling error.
“There’s only one [New Hampshire] debate and that one is happening on probably the biggest shopping weekend of the year,” complained O’Malley’s state director John Bivona. “The most common phrase we hear from our supporters when we tell them to tune in is, ‘Why is the debate on a Saturday night?’"
Plus, people around the candidates are wondering how they’re supposed to respond to the arrows slung at them by Republicans on Wednesday during their own prime-time debate that drew 18 million viewers.
“The Democrats should have been more skillful. They should have had more debates, they should have started debates earlier, and, yeah, no one’s going to watch this debate,” said former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who supports Clinton. “Republicans are garnering too much attention."
