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We the People/ Wisconsin is a multi-media partnership that provides timely forums so that citizens can question political candidates, public officials -- and themselves.

FORUM POLICY

We the People/Wisconsin uses commonly accepted criteria for determining whether or not a candidate is included in a debate or forum. No single criterion is paramount. Collectively, they allow the partners of We the People/Wisconsin to make an informed judgment about a given candidate. Factors include:

  • Does the candidate show at least 10% support in independent polls of the electorate? (In a race with many candidates, a lower threshold may be more appropriate)
  • Has the candidate articulated views on principal issues affecting the electorate? (We the People/Wisconsin does not make judgments as to the "importance" of a candidate's ideas, simply that they have expressed their views in a manner accessible to voters, such as written statements.)
  • Is there an active campaign? Is there a campaign office, a staff, a phone number? In a major race, is there an office outside of the candidate's home? District?
  • Is there funding apart from the candidate's own resources?
  • Is there a discernible way of raising money?
  • Is there campaign literature?
  • Have other news organizations covered the candidate's campaign?
  • Is the candidate on the ballot? Were they during the last election?
  • Is he/she viewed as a legitimate candidate in the eyes of academia and community leaders?
  • Is the person a legally qualified candidate as specified by the FCC?

It is also important when the forum occurs in a political cycle. For example, early in a campaign, before primaries have been held, there may be a number of active candidates, any one of which could be a candidate in the general election. This was certainly the case in the 1996 Republican primaries. At this stage, a forum may well include several or all of these candidates, in order to give citizens the broadest possible access as they form their views. However, later in the campaign, it may make sense to limit the number of candidates in a debate to those who will realistically determine the outcome of the election. At this later point, the greater service is giving citizens the most in-depth information possible about a few candidates.