Bullock: Missing first debate not a ‘blow to my campaign’

by Regina Zilbermints - 06/23/19 10:18 AM ET

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, one of the two dozen Democrats running for the party’s 2020 presidential nomination, said Sunday he is “disappointed” to miss the first debate, but added, “I don’t think it’s a blow to my campaign in the slightest.”

Bullock is one of four Democrats who failed to meet criteria set out by the Democratic National Committee for the first debates, which will take place Wednesday and Thursday.

{mosads}Instead of appearing on the debate stage, Bullock will spend those days participating in town halls and on Sunday told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” that those forums are another example of how he has “put people above politics.”

He also touted what he considers one of his main selling points in the campaign: He was elected governor in a red state that President Trump won in 2016.

Bullock missed the cut-off for the debates when he failed to either amass financial support from 65,000 unique donors or achieve 1 percent support in three qualifying polls. He was initially thought to have qualified until the DNC announced it would exclude one of the polls he was using.

His campaign announced last week he qualified for the second debate, to be held in July.

Tags 2020 Democratic candidate Chris Wallace Democratic debates Donald Trump Fox News Steve Bullock Sunday shows