U.S. presidential election debates, 2004

The 2004 United States Presidential Election Debates were sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) and concluded October 13, nearly three weeks before election scheduled for November 2, 2004.

Participant selection criteria

According to the CPD's website, the criteria for selecting candidates to participate in its 2004 presidential debates are based on evidence of eligibility (as defined in Article Two of the United States Constitution), evidence of ballot access, and evidence of electoral support based on national public opinion polls. Participants must be on enough state ballots to have at least a mathematical chance of securing an Electoral College majority in the 2004 presidential election. The key hurdle for third party candidates is that participants must have the support of at least 15% of the national electorate, based on the average of five "selected" national public opinion polling organizations.

Related Topics:
2004 - Article Two of the United States Constitution - Electoral College - 2004 presidential election - Third party candidates

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The CPD applies these criteria in advance of each scheduled presidential debate. Invitations to the CPD's vice-presidential debate will be extended to the running mates of the candidates participating in the first presidential debate.

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Application of selection criteria

Only President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry met the CPD selection criteria for any of the presidential debates. As a result, only Vice President Dick Cheney and Senator John Edwards met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - John Kerry - Dick Cheney - John Edwards

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Third-party protests and legal actions

On October 1, 2004, the Arizona Libertarian Party filed suit against the CPD and Arizona State University regarding the staging of the third presidential debate, contesting that the debate, to be staged on the grounds of and be partially funded by a state university, constituted an illegal campaign donation to the two major candidates by excluding Badnarik. (Only Bush, Kerry, and Badnarik have obtained ballot access in the state of Arizona.) A legal hearing in this suit on October 12 did not result in any action regarding the staging of the debate, however, the Arizona Libertarian Party may still seek damages in the case.

Related Topics:
October 1 - 2004 - Libertarian Party - Arizona State University - October 12

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During the second presidential debate at Washington University on October 8, 2004, Libertarian Party candidate Michael Badnarik and Green Party candidate David Cobb were arrested together outside the debate venue. Badnarik and Cobb were both protesting their exclusion from the debate and attempting to serve an Order to Show Cause against the CPD in the case mentioned above.

Related Topics:
Washington University - October 8 - 2004 - Libertarian Party - Michael Badnarik - Green Party - David Cobb - Order to Show Cause

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