Democrats announce six presidential candidate debates; one in Iowa

DES MOINES - Iowa will play host to one of six nationally televised presidential primary debates announced Thursday by the Democratic National Committee.

Democratic candidates will square off in a Nov. 14 forum to be held at Drake University's Sheslow Auditorium in Des Moines, according to details made public by DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. That event will be preceded by the kickoff debate in Nevada on Oct. 13. Other scheduled debates will be held Dec. 19 in New Hampshire, Jan. 17 in South Carolina, and the final two on yet-to-be-announced dates in February or March in Florida and Wisconsin.

'The Iowa Democratic Party is honored to be co-hosting a Democratic presidential debate on Nov. 14,” said Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Andy McGuire of the event to be sponsored by CBS, its Des Moines affiliate KCCI-TV and the Des Moines Register.

'With our first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses just months away, the debate will be a great opportunity for Iowans to hear directly from our Democratic presidential candidates about pressing issues facing our country,” McGuire said in a statement. The 2016 Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 1.

'As Republican presidential candidates get set to advocate for the same out-of-touch and outdated policies at the first GOP presidential debate (Thursday night),” she added, 'we look forward to hearing our Democratic presidential candidates talk about moving our country forward and strengthening Iowa's working families.”

Wasserman Schultz issued a statement saying the national party is 'thrilled” to announce the schedule and locations of six debate that 'will not only give caucus goers and primary voters ample opportunity to hear from our candidates about their vision for our country's future, they will highlight the clear contrast between the values of the Democratic Party which is focused on strengthening the middle class versus Republicans who want to pursue out of touch and out of date policies.”

Not everyone was as thrilled as Wasserman Schultz, however.

Leaders of the former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's campaign reiterated criticism of the proposed debates that O'Malley made in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday.

'By inserting themselves into the debate process, the DNC has ironically made it less democratic,” said O'Malley for President Senior Strategist Bill Hyers in a statement. 'The schedule they have proposed does not give voters - nationally, and especially in early states - ample opportunity to hear from the Democratic candidates for president. If anything, it seems geared toward limiting debate and facilitating a coronation, not promoting a robust debate and primary process.

'Rather than giving the appearance of rigging the process and cutting off debate, the DNC should take themselves out of the process. They should let individual and truly independent news, political, and community organizations create their own debates and allow the Democratic candidates for president to participate,” Hyers added. There is a long, proud tradition of voters in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire getting to hear early and often from candidates for President - the DNC schedule kills that tradition, and we shouldn't stand for it.”

Republicans also took shots from across the political aisle at the DNC's process.

'Rather than follow the RNC's lead of having an inclusive and neutral process, the DNC is clearly putting its thumb on the scale for Hillary Clinton,” Allison Moore, press secretary for the Republican National Committee, said in a statement. 'It's clearer than ever the Democrat Party wants nothing more than a coronation for Hillary Clinton.”

Here is the debate schedule announced by DNC officials on Thursday:

Oct. 13 - CNN - Nevada

Nov. 14 - CBS/KCCI/Des Moines Register - Des Moines

Dec. 19 - ABC/WMUR - Manchester, N.H.

Jan. 17 - NBC/Congressional Black Caucus Institute - Charleston, S.C.

February or March - Univision/Washington Post - Miami, Fla.

February or March - PBS - Wisconsin