LAS VEGAS -- The Democratic National Committee has sanctioned six presidential primary debates, giving candidates chances to challenge front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton before television audiences.
The committee said Tuesday that each of the four states that hold an early primary or caucus will host a debate: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The locations of the other two debates were not announced. The first debate will take place this fall.
Committee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a representative from Florida, said the debate schedule would give Democratic voters "multiple opportunities to size up the candidates for the nomination side by side" and allow the party to present its vision "no matter whom our nominee may be."
Republicans have scheduled nine primary debates. The Republican National Committee is holding its first debate in August in Cleveland, where the party will hold its 2016 convention.
For Democrats, it remains unclear how many candidates will be on the stage. Clinton is seen as the leading contender for the nomination and so far has only one primary challenger: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who announced last week that he would seek the nomination.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Vice President Joe Biden all have said they may run.
Clinton welcomed the debates, writing on Twitter, "While GOP debates the same failed policies, Democrats will debate how to help families get ahead. Looking forward to a real conversation."
But some Democrats suggested a need for more debates and forums.
Lis Smith, an O'Malley spokesman, said that if the ex-governor runs, "we will expect a full, robust and inclusive set of debates -- both nationally and in early primary and caucus states. This has been customary in previous primary seasons. In a year as critical as 2016, exclusivity does no one any favors."
The committee has added an exclusivity requirement, meaning that any candidate or debate sponsor wishing to be a part of the debates must agree to participate exclusively in the party-sanctioned process. Any candidate who violates the agreement would forfeit the right to compete in the remainder of the debates, the committee said.
Democratic officials said the plan for six sanctioned debates was consistent with the precedent set by the party during the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns, the most recent times there was a competitive race for the nomination.
The party did not have the exclusivity rule during those years, and as a result, candidates appeared in more than a dozen debates. Some campaign officials said the debates dominated the primary schedule and put a greater emphasis on debate performance.
Information for this article was contributed by Julie Pace of The Associated Press.
A Section on 05/06/2015