Bennet misses cut for next Dem debate

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet will sit out the next Democratic presidential debate this month after failing to recruit enough donors or to break 2% in nearly any poll.

But his campaign insists he’s not bowing out anytime soon, saying his $2.1 million third-quarter fundraising haul would be enough to keep him active through the first contests early next year.

Tuesday marked the deadline for candidates to meet the qualifying threshold for the Oct. 15 debate in Westerville, Ohio, by notching 2% support in at least four national or early state polls. They also needed to raise money Michael from at least 130,000 individual donors. Twelve candidates have met those requirements, most recently Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

As was the case last month, the moderate Colorado senator will be among a half-dozen candidates watching the debate on TV.

Bennet’s campaign declined to release the number of individual donors, instead saying 98% have given $100 or less.

On Wednesday, Bennet did notch 2% for the first time in a national poll, in an Economist/YouGov weekly tracking survey of likely primary and caucus voters.

Bennet entered the race in early May and raised $2.8 million by the end of the second quarter. Though the new quarterly haul was less and the campaign spent more than it took in, a spokesperson said Bennet’s $1.8 million in the bank at the start of this week was sufficient to keep him active.

“Our strategy to run a lean, strong campaign in early states is working, and we have the resources to compete and win,” Bennet for America’s Shannon Beckham said. “We’re continuing to run TV, rural radio, and digital ads and build out our infrastructure and staff. Instead of allowing the DNC’s flawed debate criteria to dictate this race, we’re communicating directly with voters and caucusgoers. … Michael spent more time in Iowa in September than any other candidate, and we believe it will pay off in the long run.”

Bennet’s quarterly fundraising totals have paled in comparison with the frontrunners and even secondtier candidates, with several posting third-quarter totals exceeding $10 million. Although Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden had not yet reported totals as of Wednesday morning, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced this week that he raised more than $25 million.

But Bennet is pinching pennies as he visits Iowa and New Hampshire, his campaign says, focusing on those first two contests like a laser. And for good reason: He has to beat the odds in order to raise his profile, draw quick support and expand his reach into other states.

In the most recent Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll — considered the gold standard for Iowa — Bennet’s support did not reach even 1%, however. His one recent splurge was a $1 million buy of airtime for two ads introducing himself to Iowans as a moderate candidate.