My Blackberry just buzzed with an "Urgent Message" from former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), who is angry with debate organizers who won't allow him to take the stage tonight.

"Corporate censorship has taken over the Presidential race. I have been excluded unfairly from the MSNBC Debate at Drexel University this Tuesday. Why? GE owns MSNBC and NBC. Last minute, they claimed I did not raise enough money.
I won't stand for this in my country!
Join me for this truly historic event, tonight! LIVE."

Gravel points supporters to his site, where he will broadcast live from a Philadelphia cafe across the street, answering questions posed to the seven candidates allowed at the debate. He also asks for donations because: "According to NBC, money talks."

In other long-shot candidate news, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), pointed out "wave of improving poll results" heading into tonight's debate. He did place second in a San Mateo County, California straw poll earlier this month.

Kucinich leads a Democracy for America online poll with 24 percent, leading declared Democratic rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards. (Al Gore, who still says he's not interested in running, is winning the poll.) He also is tied for fourth place in a New Hampshire poll and a Zogby national poll.

--Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter, The Washington Times