Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz Challenge Front-Runners To More Debates

Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz
Donald Trump debates with Sen. Ted Cruz at the CNN/Washington Times debate at the University of Miami in Florida on March 10. It was the last of 12 debates the GOP field has held, though Cruz is calling for more. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI

WASHINGTON, March 29 (UPI) — Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz are challenging their front-running opponents, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, to more debates.

Cruz is calling on Trump to convert Tuesday night’s planned back-to-back CNN town hall events featuring both candidates into a two-hour debate.

Responding on Twitter, Trump declined in his typically brash fashion: “Lyin’ Ted Cruz is weak & losing big so now he wants to debate again. But according to Drudge, Time, online polls, I have won all debates.”

At one point in the race, after the first two nominating contests gave Clinton a tight win in Iowa and a blowout loss in New Hampshire, she actually assuaged nervous supporters and agreed to add several more debates with Sanders.

There have been eight debates on the Democratic side, and 12 on the Republican side.

The Sanders campaign released a video on Twitter of Clinton during the 2008 presidential campaign when the roles were reversed and she was trailing then-Sen.Barack Obama. The video shows Clinton challenging Obama to a debate “any time, anywhere.”

For the Republicans, a planned 13th debate had been scheduled for March 21, but Trump refused to attend, saying there had been “enough debates.” After Trump dropped out, so too did Ohio Gov. John Kasich, prompting moderators to cancel the event.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here