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NBC, the host of the debate, has pulled personalities from all corners of its empire: NBC News, MSNBC and Telemundo. The debate will be broadcast across those three networks for two hours a night for two consecutive nights. But with 20 candidates — 10 a night — viewers will probably hear more from

"Every Democratic candidate in the First in the Nation Primary has been talking about rebuilding the middle class, protecting reproductive rights, making sure all Americans have access to affordable quality health care, and much more," said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party

The largest field of presidential candidates in history will take the stage and put themselves at the mercy of five television moderators. The spectacle will be expensive and massively produced. Such debates are some of the most profitable events in television news.

Technical difficulties are every news producer’s nightmare.

Candidates will have 60 seconds to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to follow-ups. And there will be no opening statements, though candidates will have a chance to deliver closing remarks.

Technical difficulties are every news producer’s nightmare. Especially during a political debate. On live national television. With President Trump watching — and mocking — in real-time.

Candidates will have 60 seconds to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to follow-ups. And there will be no opening statements, though candidates will have a chance to deliver closing remarks.

One of the hallmarks of President Trump’s 2016 campaign was his norm-breaking debate style. These were the techniques he used.

Presidential campaign debates should be fair. Everybody running for president deserves the chance to make their case to the public on a level platform. And yet, they can’t be completely fair. Right now, there are 178 Democratic presidential candidates who have filed with the Federal Election

Debates can be defining moments for presidential candidates. Since they provide rare opportunities for voters to see candidates face off directly against one another, debates can produce viral moments and soundbites that get replayed on cable news and social media.

But as often as not, losing a debate is a sign you are losing the race.

The DNC created new thresholds for inclusion in the first debates scheduled for June and July: reaching 1% in three party-recognized polls and accumulating 65,000 donors. These standards are not just low. They are easier to meet by appealing to the fringe than by career accomplishments alone.