Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard says she won’t attend this month’s presidential debate, even if she were to qualify.

“For a number of reasons, I have decided not to attend the December 19th ‘debate’ — regardless of whether or not there are qualifying polls,” Gabbard wrote on Twitter. “I instead choose to spend that precious time directly meeting with and hearing from the people of New Hampshire and South Carolina.”

Gabbard is one poll short of qualifying for the Dec. 19 debate being hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico in Los Angeles. She’s obtained three DNC qualifying polls and according to her campaign surpassed the required 200,000 individual donor threshold. The deadline for qualifying for the debate is Thursday.

Gabbard has criticized the polling criteria set by the Democratic National Committee throughout her campaign, as well as the format of the debates themselves. In October she threatened to boycott that month’s DNC sanctioned debate, but joined after all.

Gabbard recently moved to New Hampshire to focus her energies on drumming up support in the early-voting state.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/12/09/breaking-news/tulsi-gabbard-one-poll-short-of-qualifying-says-she-wont-attend-presidential-debate/