The great debate shut-out

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Despite the fact that 38 percent of Americans describe themselves as neither Democrats or Republicans, don’t expect to see anyone but Dubya and Bore on the televised presidential horse races or at the debates. And if there is a Perot-caliber surprise in the works to bring a third party candidate up to the podium, wager it’ll be Pat Buchanan, CNN’s perennial love child, says Jeff Cohen of FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY IN REPORTING.

Green candidate Ralph Nader whupped Buchanan in a recent Zogby poll, and yet we won’t be seeing Nader’s mug on the Sunday talk shows or at the debates. The latter is largely because the private Commission on Presidential Debates is controlled by the two major parties, effectively keeping anyone who isn’t a media darling (like Buchanan) off the public radar.

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