Participant selection In 1996, the following six candidates achieved ballot access in enough states to mathematically win the election via the
Electoral College: Unlike in
1992,
Ross Perot was excluded from the debates in the 1996 campaign. Paul Kirk, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates stated that "Our decision was made on the basis that only President Clinton and Senator Dole have a realistic chance, as set forth in our criteria, to be elected the next president of the United States." Only Dole and Clinton met the CPD selection criteria for any of the presidential debates. As a result, only their running mates Jack Kemp and Al Gore met the criteria for the vice presidential debate. 1996 was originally to have three presidential debates, with the first scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 at
Washington University in St. Louis. However, Clinton's campaign objected to the date, noting it was one day after he was set to address the United Nations, and argued that it left him without sufficient time to prepare. ==October 6: First presidential debate (The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts)==