April 23, 2024

All viable third-party candidates should be allowed spot in debates

To the editor:

According to a Sept. 24 poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Washington Post, voter dissatisfaction with its choices for President is the lowest in 20 years.

The Commission on Presidential Debates can go a long way in affording the electorate a more interesting and informed choice by including former Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and Dr. Jill Stein of Massachusetts in the debates that it’s hosting next month. They are the nominees of the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party, respectively.

All three candidates are on a sufficient number of ballots to win the 270 electoral votes required for election. Each has qualified for the Iowa general election ballot.

The CPD claims to be a nonpartisan, as well as a nonprofit corporate organization.

I encourage your readers to contact the CPD at comments@debates.org and insist on fair and impartial participation in the 2012 debates.

Free the debates!

Larry Hurto

Coalition for Free and

Open Elections

Newton