The Independent View: CNN to Hold Live Drawing to Determine Next Dem Debate Lineups

CNN will Broadcast a Live Drawing to determine on which of Two Nights Democratic Presidential Candidates will Debate later this month in Detroit.

The Lineups for the Debates will be revealed July 18th. CNN did Not specify how the Field of Presidential Contenders would be Divided into Two Panels, is hosting the Second pair of Democratic National Committee-Sanctioned Primary Debates on July 30th and 31st.

Thus far, 25 Candidates have met the Requirements to appear in the Detroit Debates by achieving 1% in Three Qualifying Polls or amassing 65,000
Donors.

Michael Bennet
Joe Biden
Cory Booker
Steve Bullock
Pete Buttigieg
Julián Castro
Bill de Blasio
John Delaney
Tulsi Gabbard
Kirsten Gillibrand
Mike Gravel
Kamala Harris
John Hickenlooper
Jay Inslee
Amy Klobuchar
Wayne Messam
Seth Moulton
Beto O'Rourke
Tim Ryan
Bernie Sanders
Joe Sestak
Tom Steyer
Elizabeth Warren
Marianne Williamson
Andrew Yang

California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who participated in the Miami Debate, has left the Race, likely to be Replaced in Detroit by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Late Entry into the Race who did Not Qualify for the First Debate.

Candidates seeking to Elevate their Standing in the Campaign will likely be eager to Secure a Lectern on the same Stage as current Front-Runner Biden, hoping to Generate a Viral Moment similar to California Sen. Kamala Harris's Attack last month on the former Vice President's Record on Race.

During the Miami Debates, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was the Only Candidate who regularly Ranks among Democratic Voters' Top Five Choices who did Not get to Share a Stage with other Leading Contenders, including Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Harris, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.

The Decision by CNN to carry Live the Candidate Drawing adds yet another Layer of Showmanship to the much-hyped and heavily choreographed Primary Debates, which have become must-watch Events of Political Television.

The First Night of Debates in Miami last month raked in 15.3 Million Viewers, NBC announced, and the Second Evening garnered 18.1 Million Viewers, becoming the Highest-rated Democratic Debate in Nielsen Ratings History.