New Hampshire Debates Welcomes Final Democrat Debate Feb. 4

CONCORD, NH -New Hampshire Debates, the organization that requested another debate before the Feb. 9 first-in-the-nation primary, says it’s “elated” that three Democrat presidential candidates have agreed to a final Granite State debate on Thursday, Feb. 4.

“We thank Senator Bernie Sanders, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Governor Martin O’Malley for their willingness to make their final arguments to the voters of New Hampshire – in prime time – on the eve of the Primary,” according to a press statement. ”Members of our coalition fought over six months for this outcome and are excited that New Hampshire voters were finally heard. The New Hampshire Primary will be better for this final reckoning at a time when Granite Staters are making up their minds.”

The DNC recently sanctioned the debate and is working with the candidates on recalibrating the broader debate schedule to allow voters “more meaningful opportunities to hear from our three outstanding candidates in coming months,” New Hampshire Debates’ Jay Surdukowski said in an email. “ We are thrilled our efforts were a catalyst for such a democratic outcome which will impact the presidential race well beyond the Granite State’s borders.”

New Hampshire Debates consists of over 130 current and former elected officials, town and county Democratic leaders, Democratic activists, supporters of all three presidential campaigns and undecided leaders who believe strongly that the Primary tradition of free and open debate transcends any one presidential campaign. Starting with the first of many op eds in August, members of the coalition have worked for over six months to urge the candidates to have a final debate in New Hampshire on the eve of the Primary.

The members of New Hampshire Debates include: Rep. Michael Abbott, Rep. Caroletta Alicea, David Allen, Rep. Susan Almy, Jeffery Ballard, Dean Barker, Hon. Mo Baxley, Mark Beaudoin, Raj Bhattacharya, Rep. Peter Bixby, Hon. Peter Burling, Dan Calegari, Bernadette Cameron, Beth Campbell, Hon. Lorrie Carey, Hon. Byron Champlin, Rep. Cynthia Chase, Rep. Jackie Cilley, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, Colleen Clayton, John Clayton, Rep. Alan Cohen, Hon. Burt Cohen, Rep. John Cloutier, Rep. Renny Cushing, Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, Robert Dietel, Clara Dietel, Hon. Dudley Dudley, Gerald Dyer, Rep. Dan Eaton, Lucy Edwards, Hon. Eileen Ehlers, Robert Ehlers, Brent Erstad, Lew Feldstein, Nathan Fennessey, Rep. Sue Ford, Rep. June Frazer, Stan Freeda, Caroline French, Hon. Sylvia Gale, Rep. Jeff Goley, Irvin Gordon, Rep. Sue Gottling, Hon. Martin L. Gross, Ronna Hamelin, Rachel Hampe, Matthew Hancock, Dr. Travis Harker, John Hattan, Zandra Rice-Hawkins, Ann Heffernon, Rep. Frank Heffron, Mary Heslin, Rep. Patricia Higgins, Rep. Timothy Horrigan, Rep. Virginia Irwin, Sen. Andrew Hosmer, Rep. Marty Jack, Hon. Harold Janeway, Rep. Gladys Johnsen, Don Jorgensen, Ed Kaplan, Brian Keaney, Janice Kelble, Ben Kelley, Karina Kelley, Quinn Kelley, Eric Tolbert Kilchenstein, Pat Kinne, Rob Lanney, Jonathan Lax, Kyle Leach, Rep. Peter Leishman, Derek Lick, Rep. Pat Long, Hon. Maureen Mann, Rep. Marcia Moody, Kathy Muirhead, Prof. Russ Muirhead, Rep. Mel Myler, James Owers, Linda Paquette, Chia-Huei Parker, David Parker, Hon. Norman Patenaude, Rep. Marjorie Porter, Shana Potvin, Hon. Brian Rapp, Rep. Mario Ratzki, John Rauh, Mary Rauh, Alan Reische, Joan Reische, Mike Ricard, Hon. Gary Richardson, Ken Roos, Jim Rosenberg, Rep. George Saunderson, Atlant Schmidt, Hon. Jan Schmidt, Rep. Dianne Schuett, Brian Shea, Rep. Steve Shurtleff, Jayme Simoes, Laura Simoes, Dr. Bill Siroty, Rep. Marjorie Smith, Matt Snyder, Rep. Judith Spang, Robert Spiegelman, Lynne Starry, Bill Stelling, Tom St. Martin, Jay Surdukowski, Rep. George Sykes, Jim Tetreault, AnnMarie Timmins, Ken Traum, William Tucker, Michael Veilleux, Donna Veilleux, Sen. David Watters, Rep. Lucy Weber, Dan Weeks, Sindiso Mnisi Weeks, Cinde Warmington, Pat Wilczynski, Dan Wise, Sen. Jeff Woodburn, and Josh Wyatt.