Debate Panel Defends Barring Nader, Buchanan

WASHINGTON — Leaders of the Commission on Presidential Debates defended their decision to exclude candidates who draw less than 15% in national polls, arguing that anyone falling below that threshold doesn’t have a realistic shot at the presidency.

Their defense Wednesday came as third party candidates Patrick J. Buchanan and Ralph Nader complained that they can’t win if they are shut out of the high-profile prime-time fall debates.

“Our role is not to jump-start your campaign and all of a sudden make you competitive,” said Paul G. Kirk Jr., co-chairman of the commission. “It’s not a perfect analogy, but in sports, people understand you don’t make the playoffs unless you start to accumulate enough wins to show you’re competitive.”

National polls show neither Nader, of the Green Party, nor Buchanan, of the Reform Party, with more than 5% support.

Commission leaders also defended the use of corporate sponsors to underwrite the debates, each of which costs about $550,000 to stage. The money is raised by local host committees.

Although the Federal Election Commission has approved this spending, Nader argued in a lawsuit filed this week that the donations amount to illegal contributions to the major parties.