Protesters Heckle Democratic National Committee Chair Over Number of Debates

ByLIZ KREUTZ ABCNews logo
Sunday, September 20, 2015

The call for more Democratic debates is growing louder.

The chair of the Democrats National Committee got heckled today during her remarks at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention by protesters calling for more than six debates in the primary.

The chants began as Debbie Wasserman Schultz told the crowd she was looking forward to the December debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

"We want debates! More debates!" party members yelled out, drowning out her remarks.

Many protesters -- many of whom were Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley supporters -- simultaneously held up bright orange signs that read, "More debates = More votes for DEMOCRATS."

The protest comes one week after Wasserman Schultz told reporters she's standing by the current debate schedule despite louder calls by one candidate in particular, Martin O'Malley, to expand a debate schedule he says was essentially designed to protect Hillary Clinton from more exposure to her rivals.

Speaking at a rally before the convention, O'Malley told fans that Republican debates cannot go unanswered. "The Democratic Party has something to say about the future of this country," he said. He went on to describe the debate schedule as "party malpractice."

Wasserman Schultz denies that the schedule was created with any candidate in mind, though two DNC vice chairs came out publicly last week echoing calls for more debates.

Today, Wasserman Schultz largely ignored the continuing calls from the party members. Eventually, however, the chants grew too loud.

"What's more important?" she shouted out above the protesters. "Drawing a contrast with Republicans or arguing about debates?"

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