NPR/IPR Debate Provides Mouthpiece for Lesser-Known Candidates

Seven Democratic presidential hopefuls converged in Des Moines Tuesday afternoon to take part in the first audio-only debate of the campaign hosted by Iowa Public Radio and broadcast nationally by National Public Radio. While front-running candidates exchanged a few swipes on the three issues discussed, and have had their words broadly publicized since the debate, the event provided a stage for the lesser-known and lesser-financed candidates: Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel. To say that they played the day for all it was worth would be an understatement.

When the debate concluded, a handful of candidates — Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Kucinich and Gravel — made themselves and their staff available to members of the press who had gathered outside or in the lobby of the Iowa State Historical Building.

The debate itself focused on three issues — Iran, China and immigration — in an attempt to bring more depth to the candidates’ discussion. Some in the national press have argued that having Kucinich and Gravel as a part of the conversations in Des Moines weakened the format, removed talking time from the other candidates and served no purpose. Iowans — many of whom said they listened to the debate were found at area businesses afterward — welcomed at least one last opportunity to hear from the race’s lesser-knowns.

“I don’t feel that way at all,” said Alano Rodriquez of Des Moines when asked if Kucinich and Gravel should have been excluded from the debate because of their lower poll numbers and lack of organization in Iowa. “I won’t be caucusing for either of them, but what they have to say is important.”

Jamie Marshall, who said she listened with friends from Iowa State University, agreed.

“I don’t think the big candidates tell the truth all the time,” she said. “I think you need the other, lower candidates in there to make them talk — to get them out of their political comfort zones. I wish they’d let them talk more.”

When asked about the format of the debate, Kucinich mostly declined comment.

“I think NPR did a good job,” he said before walking away.

While no Iowans were willing to concede a Gravel or Kucinich win in the debate, not one was found who was unappreciative of the candidates being invited and participating.

“Many of us — at least I know this is true for me — have chosen our candidate,” Rodriquez said between sips from a coffee cup. “We aren’t going to see the other candidates like we should, and are now concentrating our efforts to help our candidate. These events that have all the candidates are probably the only time those of us who are supporting one candidate or another get to hear from the others.”

Rodriquez said he has chosen his first and second candidate choices, but refused to name them because his “number two keeps changing.”

Candidates taking part in the debate were New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, Biden, Dodd, Kucinich and Gravel. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was not present for the debate. He attended the funeral of Clem R. Boody, an Iowa soldier who lost his life during the Korean War. Richardson and Anthony Principi, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, were instrumental in the recent return of the veteran’s remains to his family.

NPR and IPR have stated that they hope to put on a similar audio-only event for the Republicans after the first of the year — no word yet on when and/or who has been invited.

Author Clarification: Based on conversations I had with guests following the debate, this article originally stated that guests at the event were provided a live video feed of the debate. National Public Radio and Iowa Public Radio provided no video or closed-circuit viewing of the debate for either guests or the press.