Sanders calls for more debates — on his own terms

by Elliot Smilowitz - 01/27/16 9:13 PM ET

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders wants to do more debates — but not on Hillary Clinton’s terms.

Sanders’s campaign released a statement late Wednesday calling for additional debates in the Democratic primary, but with specific provisions.

{mosads}The campaign is requesting one each in March, April and May. All three must not be scheduled on a Friday, Saturday or holiday, and all three must include Martin O’Malley along with Sanders and Clinton.

“If the Clinton campaign will commit to this schedule, we would ask the DNC [Democratic National Committee] to arrange a debate in New Hampshire on Feb. 4,” the statement said.

It noted that Sanders has called for more debates since the beginning of the race and accused Clinton of wanting few.

Sanders’s campaign said Clinton now wants more debates because “the dynamics of the race have changed and Sen. Sanders has significant momentum.

“Sen. Sanders is happy to have more debates but we are not going to schedule them on an ad hoc basis at the whim of the Clinton campaign.”

Tags Bernie Sanders DNC Hillary Clinton