UW-Platteville to host debate (after-action review)

Candidates for Wisconsin’s third district congressional seat will hold a debate from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Pioneer Crossing in the Pioneer Student Center. The debate is being co-hosted by UW-Platteville and the Platteville Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbent Ron Kind, a Democrat who has held the seat since winning election in 1996, is facing challenges this election season from Republican Dan Kapanke and Independent Michael Krsiean.

“I’ve already had a few debates with [Kapanke] and I’m looking forward to have the opportunity to get Representative Kind in the mix,” said Krsiean. Krsiean said that as an Independent, his platform stands for, “freedom, personal responsibility and reducing the size and scope of the federal government.”

Kapanke is also looking forward to the debate. “I am excited to appear at UW-Platteville to talk about the issues that are important in this election like jobs, our economy, and the growing national debt,” he said. “I am looking forward to being on campus and hope to have a spirited debate.”

The candidates will hold two more debates after Platteville, in Eau Claire on Wednesday, Oct. 20 and La Crosse on Tuesday, Oct. 26. “I’m looking forward to a good, honest debate,” said Kind. “It’s important to discuss the issues most important to western Wisconsin and help people make an informed decision on election.”

The debate was held tonight at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. Here's my quick after action review: There were approximately 250-300 people in attendance, including the chancellor of UW-Platteville. The three candidates were arranged on the stage left to right - Kapanke, Kind, Krsiean (pronounced kri-SHEEN).

Kapanke did quite well. He repeatedly bludgeoned Kind with his voting record (yes on TARP, Obamacare, cap & trade, etc). He also did an excellent job of associating Kind with Pelosi/Obama. Kind even commented that he felt like "President Obama must be standing behind me, because I feel like everyone is talking to him and not me."

Krsiean is the limited-government Constitutionalist of the bunch. I thought he did very well, but he fumbled the last question badly. The question was about what the candidates' commitment to diversity (a significant issue in a small college town with a large percentage of foreign students and faculty). Kind and Kapanke gave fairly blah answers. Krsiean made a meandering, rambling reply that had something to do with maintaining ideological purity. Frankly, the language sounded quite similar to what one would hear from your average white (or black) supremacist. He made a very poor choice by way of analogy, saying something to the effect of 'just as a single drop of black ink can pollute perfectly clear water,' so could allowing students and/or faculty members from authoritarian nations could pollute the minds of our youth. He lost the debate on that one line.

Had the debate ended one question earlier, I would have declared Krsiean the winner. He went from first to last in the space of a single answer. Kind came across as a slick, smooth, polished politician. Kapanke definitely had a more 'down-home Wisconsin' vibe. It's a small thing, but Kapanke actually sounds like he's from Wisconsin, whereas Kind has no discernable accent. That will hurt him in rural southwest Wisconsin.

He was really tryin hard....last question messed him up. If he had time to think while someone else answered it first he might have processed his thoughts and not have stuck his foot in his mouth so deep...but in reality he NEVER made the connection between black ink and race. That just isn’t how he thinks. His Pastor is Black, his roomate was Vietnamese, he has a wonderful prayer warrioress in his prayer group who is black...

In his first presidential style debate ever...he just messed up.

If he had time to think while someone else answered it first he might have processed his thoughts and not have stuck his foot in his mouth so deep...but in reality he NEVER made the connection between black ink and race. That just isn’t how he thinks.

That's the feeling I got, too. The answer itself wasn't racist, but whenever you start using words like "purity" and "pollution" in a discussion on race, you're automatically linked to the wackos in the listener's mind, because that language is so prevalent with them.

I also thought he should've had a better answer for the 'what's the first thing you'll do when you get to DC' question. He didn't really answer that, simply vented more anger against the status quo.

Maybe in another 2 years he'll be really ready for prime-time. I think he's at least on the right track.

Having said that, though, I think he should probably drop out of this race at this point so as not to split the vote between him and Kapanke. The last poll I saw shows it at around 50-43, so the three or four points that Krsiean could give to Kapanke could really make a difference in these last few days of the campaign.

Terabitten....I’ve been playing with you a bit. :) I’m Mike. I do appreciate your interest in posting your review of the debate. Thanks!

I’ll be loading the Eau Claire debate onto my website later tonight. Please watch that and let me know of any thoughts.

Have a link to that poll you referenced? Not aware of anything other than the one below.

This is the one and only I’ve seen:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34848766/AFP-Kind-Kapanke-Poll-Memo

It’s from a Republican source. You’ll notice that 48% call themselves independent. Of all respondents, only 24% say they will DEFINITELY vote Kapanke. Only 24% say they will DEFINITELY vote Kind.

It’s a stretch to lump the leaners into any camp 3-4 months before the election.

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