“When the initial rules came out with a focus on grass-roots fund-raising, of course our campaign was focused on the same thing,” he told reporters. But he also said then: “Our logic for having a grass-roots fund-raising threshold was, it provides opportunity for people who don’t have the national name I.D. If you want to win the presidency, you’ve got to connect with grass-roots America.”Xochitl Hinojosa, a D.N.C. began making it harder to qualify for the debates, some candidates who found themselves short of the thresholds began agitating for more inclusive rules. Mr. Booker dropped out of the race after failing to qualify for the debates held in December and January.

Source: New York Times January 31, 2020 20:20 UTC