Clinton opens the door to more Democratic debates - CNN Politics

IP: Clinton's next phase_00000908.jpg

Now playing

00:40

Clinton's next phase

CBS

Now playing

01:43

Hillary Clinton defends Bill not resigning

CNN

Now playing

02:12

Clinton: Kavanaugh ceremony a political rally

Now playing

01:48

Clinton laughs at Kavanaugh's comment

CBS

Now playing

01:00

Hillary Clinton makes cameo on 'Murphy Brown'

hillary clinton amanpour impeachment_00014522.jpg

Now playing

01:47

Clinton: Impeachment 'will be left to others to decide'

hillary clinton republicans amanpour intv vpx_00000000.jpg

Now playing

03:04

Clinton: Civility starts by electing Democrats

Now playing

00:55

Clinton ends Franklin tribute with smartphone

CNN

Now playing

01:49

Clinton rejects Trump comparisons to her husband

Schomburg Center

Now playing

01:58

Bill Clinton: I apologized for Lewinsky scandal

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

US President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Now playing

04:21

Fact check: Hillary Clinton's misleading comments

Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Eighth Annual Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on April 6, 2017, in New York City.

Now playing

00:39

Hillary Clinton goes after al-Assad, Putin

Rick Kern/WireImage/WireImage

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 17: Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton signs copies of her new book 'What Happened' at BookPeople on November 17, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)

Now playing

01:29

Clinton: Trump parrots what Putin says

TV3

Now playing

01:01

Clinton: Children treated as political pawns

Broadway Video/Universal Television

Now playing

01:15

Miley Cyrus tears up thanking Hillary Clinton

RBG on sexism and HRC_00010727.jpg

Now playing

01:50

RBG says Clinton was criticized worse than men

(CNN) —

Hillary Clinton told reporters on Saturday that she would participate in additional presidential debates if the party’s national committee sanctioned them, opening the door to more public contests between the Democratic presidential hopefuls.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has repeatedly called for more than the six debates than the Democratic National Committee has sanctioned and used a speech before the committee in August to blast the decision as biased towards Clinton. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has joined O’Malley in those calls.

“I debated a lot in 2008 and I would certainly be there with lots of enthusiasm and energy if (the DNC) decide to add more debates,” Clinton said during a press conference in Portsmouth. “And I think that’s the message a lot of people are sending their way.”

The comment is a departure from what Clinton has said about debates in the past. When asked by reporters in August about the debate schedule, Clinton said she would not comment on scheduling.

The debate issue has dominated much of what O’Malley – who is polling in the basement and is struggling to establish himself in the race – has talked about for the last few weeks.

“Is this how the Democratic Party selects its nominee, or are we becoming something else, something less?” he asked the DNC in August. On a radio show after his remarks, O’Malley called his party the “Undemocratic Party.”

The DNC announced earlier this year that there would be six sanctioned debates on its side, with the first coming in October.

DNC officials have said it is highly unlikely that the party sanctions any more debates, even with O’Malley’s complaints. It is also unlikely, they said, that the party will loosen their rules that stipulate any candidate who participates in a debate not sanctioned by the DNC will be barred from future contests.

Sanders has not been as vocal as O’Malley about debates, but has called for the DNC to sanction more of them.