Posted on 09/14/2004 6:55:22 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) have been sparring with mock-debate partners since midsummer, getting ready for Democrats John Kerry (news - web sites) and John Edwards (news - web sites).
In late July, Bush began practicing with Sen. Judd Gregg (news, bio, voting record), R-N.H., inside the White House residence, officials said Monday. Gregg also played Al Gore (news - web sites) in debate preparation in 2000.
Cheney started debate rehearsal in early August, jousting with Rep. Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record), an Ohio Republican and longtime Bush family friend.
The Commission on Presidential Debates has proposed three presidential faceoffs and one vice presidential debate from Sept. 30 to Oct. 13. Some Bush advisers are recommending that the president skip the second proposed debate because its town-hall forum presents too much uncertainty.
In practice sessions, Gregg challenges Bush directly, according to a former official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the debate plans have not been completed. Gregg tries to knock the president off balance, the former official said.
Both the Bush camp and the Kerry camp have named negotiating teams to work out details of the debates. Bush met with the head of his negotiating team, former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, last Wednesday.
The commission has proposed debates for Sept. 30 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., Oct. 8 at Washington University in St. Louis and Oct. 13 at Arizona State University.
Outside of protests from journalists, the Bush campaign sees little political risk in trimming back the proposed three debates to two. In three of the past five presidential campaigns, including both where a president was seeking re-election, there were only two debates.
There were three presidential debates in 2000 and three in 1992.
Bush campaign officials say Kerry, lagging in the polls, has much more to gain from debates than Bush. The president has been on the national stage as commander in chief for 3 1/2 years, and does not need debates to define him in voters' minds. Kerry is just introducing himself to some voters, they say.
The vice presidential debate has been proposed for Oct. 5 at Case Western University in Cleveland.
Bring It On!
Do you think Kerry will bring up Vietnam at all? I'm just curious.
Pres. Bush greets supporters after addressing a rally at the C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Mich., Monday, Sept. 13, 2004. The stop was the president's third in the state after making campaign stops in Muskegon and Holland. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
President Bush (news - web sites) salutes members of the Air Force as he arrives at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., Monday, Sept. 13, 2004. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Not sure. Maybe a drinking game would be appropriate for these debates.
He'll probably have his Band of Brothers on stage with him.
It will be a pleasure to watch.
The President will do fine against Senator Kerry - I'm not worried about that matchup at all, but the Vice President has an opportunity to completely destroy someone's political future on national TV.
After October 5, Senator Edwards will never be a viable presidential candidate again, or a gubernatorial candidate, or a senatorial candidate. He may be thrown a safe Congressional seat as a consolation.
He'll probably have his Bandaids of Brothers on stage with him.
F. Lee Edwards debating Cheney....no doubt in my mind I'm gonna die laughing!
Everytime Bush tries to speak, Max Cleland will wheel up to him with an angry letter about the Swiftboat Vets.
He'll have to go back to hosting that tv show where he talks to dead people.
Edwards will probably pull a dirty trick during his debate.
He'll channel the spirits of the 9/11 dead, and they'll be endorsing Kerry-Edwards.
I can see him doing it...
Good question. It has to pop up. It's what Kerry is running on. ;-)
It's going to be real interesting to see how it gets injected into the debate.
--- Maybe somehow thru a question about both candidates military records or support of the military in general.
Brit Hume should have been a moderator for one of these events.
I wonder if Fox will get a seat at the panel's table?
These debates are structured differently from what used to be an in your face format.. bummer, Takes a lot of the fun & energy out of them, imo.
lol.. Thanks!
exactly! I am going to mark my calendar right now!
I wish Mrs. Bush and the Kook would debate.
Do yo think he will channel Abe Lincoln?
This, of course, is much easier to do in the Kerry camp since they don't need to find someone to debate with Francois. He does it with himself.
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