Otterbein University In Westerville To Host Next Democratic Presidential Debate

The Democratic National Committee announced Friday it plans to hold the next Democratic presidential debate at Otterbein University in Westerville.

CNN and the New York Times will co-host on Oct. 15, with the possibility that a second night may be added at the suburban Columbus college.

“The biggest shift in Ohio politics is that suburbs like Westerville that used to be Republican have become Democrat or toss up,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper.

CNN's Anderson Cooper and Erin Burnett and the New York Times' Marc Lacey will moderate.

Candidates must have a 2% polling threshold in four DNC-approved polls and at least 130,000 unique donors, including 400 per state from at least 20 states, to qualify, according to a CNN report.

As of Friday afternoon, the broadcaster says 11 candidates report they've met the qualifications.

They include:

• Joe Biden
• Cory Booker
• Pete Buttigieg
• Julián Castro
• Kamala Harris
• Amy Klobuchar
• Beto O'Rourke
• Bernie Sanders
• Tom Steyer
• Elizabeth Warren
• Andrew Yang

The Ohio Republican Party Press Secretary Elizabeth Giannone said in a written statement:

"The 2020 Democratic candidates can debate in Ohio all they want, but Ohioans have made it clear that their radical ideas are not welcome here. President Trump's pro-growth policies have created a booming economy, and in 2016 we flipped traditionally blue counties red. President Trump won Ohio by 8 points and we are still feeling that momentum thanks to the president's leadership. The Democrats' radical agendas, policies that will only result in higher taxes on the middle class, simply don't resonate here."

But the Democratic party's David Pepper says suburban women have trended away from President Trump in recent years. He adds, the fact that the DNC chose this part of Ohio shows Democrats see it as winnable next November.

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