Hillary Clinton Rival Campaign Calls DNC Debates ‘Contrary To Our Democracy’ In Supporter Email

Hillary Clinton’s primary rivals say that the Democratic National Committee’s debate schedule unfairly favor the frontrunner and are undemocratic. With the first Republican debate being held on Thursday, Democratic primary candidate Martin O’Malley ramped up his criticisms. At a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the former Maryland Gov. called DNC leaders a “small cabal” saying that DNC intervention in the debates was like “circling a wagon” to “close off the debates.

Clinton is ahead of her opponents in polls, fundraising and media attention. Her rivals want to remind voters that there are other candidates, too. Major declared candidates include Lincoln Chafee , Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, and Jim Webb . Vice-President Joe Biden hasn’t ruled out a run, but is more visible in polls than some declared candidates. DNC said Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement that the concise debate schedule will offer plenty of time to help Democrats select a candidate, and start tearing at Republican rivals.

“These six debates will not only give caucus goers and primary voters ample opportunity to hear from our candidates about their vision for our country’s future, they will highlight the clear contrast between the values of the Democratic Party which is focused on strengthening the middle class versus Republicans who want to pursue out-of-touch and out-of-date policies,” Schultz said in a statement quoted by Politico .

According to that outlet, the first Democratic debate will be held in Nevada on Oct. 13, followed by debates in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The last two debates have not yet been finalized. At least one of them will be hosted by Spanish-language Univision, according to Politico.

Within minutes of the official DNC announcement on Thursday, Martin O’Malley for President Senior Strategist Bill Hyers called the debate schedule “a coronation,” and blasted debate rules that punish candidates who participated in unofficial debates as “arbitrary rules of exclusion are not only contrary to our democracy, they are clearly geared toward limiting a debate on the issues and instead facilitating a coronation,” in an email to supporters. In an official statement, the O’Malley strategist called for the DNC to completely relinquish control over the debates.

“By inserting themselves into the debate process, the DNC has ironically made it less democratic. The schedule they have proposed does not give voters—nationally, and especially in early states—ample opportunity to hear from the Democratic candidates for President. If anything, it seems geared toward limiting debate and facilitating a coronation, not promoting a robust debate and primary process,” Hyers said.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has also expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s role in the debates. As early as May, Sanders sent a letter to Schultz criticizing an early template of the debate process, which stated that there would only be six debates.

“[As]I have traveled around the country, I have been hearing concerns from voters about the need for vigorous candidate debate,” Sanders wrote, according to Time . “The people of this country are tired of political gossip, personal attacks and ugly 30-second ads. They want the candidates to engage in serious discussion about the very serious issues facing our country today.”

Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is already going after former Florida governor Jeb Bush, the Republican that, according to the New York Times , her aids believe will be the GOP nominee. Bush, heavily favored to win the nomination will debate his primary for the first time on Thursday night.