MSNBC to Host Democratic Debate in New Hampshire, With DNC's Blessing

The Democratic National Committee, under pressure from voters and candidates to add more debates to the primary schedule, has sanctioned Thursday's New Hampshire debate hosted by MSNBC and the Union Leader newspaper, the network announced Sunday.

“Our Democratic candidates have agreed in principle to having the DNC sanction and manage additional debates in our primary schedule, inclusive of New Hampshire this week,” DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

The debate will be held at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on Feb 4., just days before the first primary in the nation, and be moderated by Chuck Todd and Rachel Maddow.

All three Democratic presidential candidates, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley are expected to attend. [[316127531, C]]

New Hampshire was originally given only one DNC-sanctioned debate, which was held Dec. 19 in Manchester. On Tuesday, DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued a statement refusing to sanction the New Hampshire debate, but said after the First in the Nation caucuses and primary, it would reconsider.

Wasserman Schultz said the DNC will "reconvene negotiations and finalize the schedule" Tuesday morning, in order to "give our campaigns the space to focus on the important work of engaging caucus goers in Iowa."

The DNC scheduled six debates this election cycle, with just four taking place before the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries — three of of which took place on weekends. The most recent debate was held Jan. 17, with another not slated until after New Hampshire voters go to the polls on Feb. 9.

No one was more surprised by the DNC's decision than MSNBC's own Rachel Maddow, who tweeted shortly after the announcement "AH HA! Put it in ink!" [[367146191, C]]

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