Fitzgerald out of Debate

The Minnesota News Network and the Minnesota Farm Network are hosting a debate for the Senate seat on November 2nd and they’ve chosen to not include Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald. The IP sent out a plea for supporters to contact MNN to get them to reverse their decision.

The threshold was set at polling at 10% for a candidate to be included in the debate. The IP e-mail points to the 5% threshold for statewide major party status and other media’s debate requirements, noting that Fitzgerald would be included by both MPR and Debate Minnesota standards.

The e-mail states “If allowed to stand, this arbitrary standard could be used against all current and future candidates. There is nothing to prevent them from moving the standard up once again once our candidates reach this new threshold.