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Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel at a press conference announcing his candidacy for U.S. President in the Democratic Party April 17, 2006 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Gravel excluded from Presidential debate

Long-shot candidate Senator Mike Gravel loses chance to debate at Drexel.

By: Stephanie Takach

Posted: 10/26/07

Democratic Presidential candidate Mike Gravel was forced to withdraw from the Oct. 30 Drexel debate after being unable to meet the required criteria for polling and fundraising.

The criteria to participate are set by NBC news and include sufficient and polling requirements, as well as an actively documented campaign.

"There was no record that Gravel made more than five separate appearances in New Hampshire [and] Iowa, where the first caucuses will be held," NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd said. Gravel's campaign committee claims that he has made more appearances, but that his schedules were not released. Gravel's staff was unavailable for comment.

The Democratic National Campaign supports the criteria of NBC News and MSNBC, according to a DNC spokeswoman.

The former Alaska Senator has not registered for the last poll, and has received less than one percent of voter support in his last documented poll. Gravel has raised about $287,000 overall and had $17,000 on hand at the end of the quarter that ended Sept.30, according to The Washington Post, compared to opponent Hillary Clinton's $35 million dedicated to the primary season.

Although Gravel does not have the same financial circumstances as Clinton and Obama, he did begin his campaign in the same condition as Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee.

"Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee were able to develop traction using the debates despite their financial circumstances," Todd said.

With Election Day coming up, the debates are becoming a strong resource for candidates to get their issues through to the public. With one less candidate attending the debate, it creates more time for the more serious candidates to answer questions.

"It's unfortunate that more people can't be meaningfully involved in the debates, but the fact is that the more people in a debate, the less meaningful it is for each of them," said John Lloyd, vice president of Drexel Democrats. "Gravel was usually the more confrontational of the candidates, but as time is running out until the first primaries, all the other candidates will probably become more confrontational anyway, and so in that sense, Gravel's role is unnecessary."

Gravel's inactive campaign, lack of funds and poll numbers all contribute to his inability to participation in the debate. However, focusing on the more serious candidates will give voters as much opportunity to understand the differences between their positions as the elections draw nearer, according to Todd.