Hickenlooper and Bennet Make It – The One Percenters

Congratulations to both John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet who made the first Democratic debate on June 26 and 27, broadcasted by NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo.

By reaching one percent in the polls, they also qualify for the second debate at the end of July. But, they haven’t registered in the fundraising goal of $65,000 from online sources, and at one percent, they join a dozen other candidates barely in the race. Qualifying for the August debate is tougher with a two percent threshold for polling. The one percenters don’t have much time to spare.

After a random draw, both Coloradans are in the second debate on June 27 with frontrunners Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris. When you examine the Real Clear Politics polling average, Bennet records at one percent as of June 14, whereas Hickenlooper’s average shows only 0.4 percent. Out of the 20 finalists for the debate, 13, or 65 percent, are at one percent or below. They are the candidates that need a moment in the debate to be special for TV and online audiences. The media and pundit class would like to describe one or more hidden talents in the pack that they could predict as possible breakout candidates.

Neither Bennet nor Hickenlooper have reputations for superior debating skills. Bennet has done well in interviews on MSNBC and the weekend political talk shows while touting his book. His internet high point was his Senate floor speech taking on Ted Cruz.

Hickenlooper has moments of interviewing strength, but sometimes misses the mark. Recently, his policy positions have been well received on foreign policy and climate change. And, he did have a breakout moment labeled, “Hickenlooper booed” on the internet when he said “socialism is not the answer” to a Democratic convention full of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren supporters.