Martin O'Malley

Holly Shulman, the DNC’s national press secretary, said the DNC and the media outlets have agreed to the participation criteria, and she repeated the party’s view that “six debates will give plenty of opportunity to be seen side by side.”

Sandler, however, argues that such an arrangement is “legally problematic” because none of the debate sponsors can be bound by the DNC or other debate sponsors.

O’Malley, who is trailing both Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the polls, clearly has an incentive to share a stage with them as often as possible. During his campaigns for governor, O’Malley proved an able debater, and as a presidential hopeful, he is eager for more attention.