The Libertarian candidate in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race doesn’t think it’s fair he can’t participate in a debate featuring incumbent Senator Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.
David Patterson will not be at the October 13th debate at Kentucky Educational Television in Lexington because the network says he didn’t meet certain criteria.
Patterson told WKU Public Radio that he’s a legitimate candidate who submitted more than 9,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office. Only 5,000 signatures are required to appear on the November 4th ballot.
“KET has always included, or at least it’s my understanding that they’ve always included any ballot access candidates, which of course we’ve been able to do this time," Patterson said.
According to KET’s new criteria, by August 16th a debate participant must be a legal candidate, maintain an active website, raise at least $100,000, and be polling ten percent or higher in one independent poll.
Patterson filed to run for U.S. Senate August 11th and has polled seven percent into two polls this month.
