KOAT-TV and the Albuquerque Journal have apparently decided to let independent 3rd Congressional District candidate Carol Miller participate in their televised Oct. 19 debate.
Miller wrote in an e-mail to supporters today that, after the news organizations came under fire for announcing that they would exclude her from the debate with Democrat Ben Ray Luján and Republican Dan East, they changed their minds and decided to let her participate.
“I want to thank you for taking the time to stand up for democracy. Your voice was heard!” Miller wrote to her supporters. “I will be participating in the Sunday, October 19th debate to be broadcast on KOAT-TV. … Because you stood up for democracy an independent voice will be heard.”
In justifying the original decision to only include Luján and East in the debate, KOAT New Director Sue Stephens told The Santa Fe New Mexican that she invited the two candidates “in the public’s eye,” saying Luján and East “lived through the primary. They have had exposure.”
I was among those who criticized the decision to exclude Miller. I’m glad the news organizations changed their minds.