Portland presidential debate canceled

KATU ^ | March 15, 2012

[Cincinatus' Wife]

PORTLAND, Ore. – After months of planning, the Oregon Republican Party had to cancel their presidential debate just days before it was scheduled to happen.

The two leading candidates, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, both declined invitations, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, which was hosting the debate.

Without the front-runners, organizers decided it wasn’t worth holding the debate.

A party spokesman said the campaigns have changed strategies and don’t see the advantage of national debates. He said organizers did their best to make the debate happen, but in the end it wasn’t in the cards.

"It is disappointing," said Oregon Republican Party Chairman Allen Alley. "It's just the campaigns have moved to a different mode where they're going state by state, very tactical about delegates in each of those states."

Only Newt Gingrich had formally accepted the debate invitation, according to OPB.

Debate organizers offered to change the date or move the venue to Chicago ahead of next week’s Illinois primary, but the campaigns didn’t buy it.

Alley said they knew scheduling a debate after Super Tuesday would be "high risk, high reward."

The Republican Party, OPB and co-sponsor the Washington Times have invested large amounts of time organizing the debate, but the Oregon GOP spokesman said the cancellation won’t be a huge financial burden. They had not yet spent money on many of the large costs, such as venues and security.

Alley said the campaigns told him they would make visits to Oregon in May, before our primary.

The debate was set to be broadcast from OPB’s studio on Monday night. It would have been broadcast on public radio and TV stations across the country.

[Cicero]

I can’t imagine who on earth arranged a debate sponsored by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Presumably Karl Rove and friends. All of these debates have been seriously undermined by the moderators. Even Fox is in the shower with Mitt.

[Vigilanteman]

. . . and they've both won more than two states.

Seven reasons for Rick Santorum

1. Who has won the most states without the benefit of their own money, last election's organization or a billionaire casino sugar daddy?
   
2. Who is everybody's second choice when he isn't their first?
   
3. Who can get both the Romney people and the Gingrich people, who hate each other, to vote for him?
   
4. Who has the best record on immigration?
   
5. Who has the best plan for repealing ObamaCare? And is the only GOP candidate who didn't help write or approve legislation which helped spawn this fiasco?
   
6. Who has the best plan for expanding the American economy and strengthening American families?
   
7. Who is the closest thing we have to the "generic Republican" which polls show consistently beating Obama and is most likely to make the election about Obama's sorry record rather than about himself?

[Guenevere]

He showed up!!!!.....He wasn't running scared.

He came to the forum to speak....

..the forum organizers decided how it would be formatted.

What's your point if you have one.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

LOL

Send Rick a check and make yourself a cup of tea gal.

[dforest]

Santorum just got done with a debate the other day.

There have been over 21 debates.

More than usual.

It didn’t help Newt the last time though he performed well.

People are worn with them in the primaries.

[Ingtar]

Rather, there is nothing left to gain from debating Newt again. There is no reward for the risk. That last 12-14% supporting Newt are not likely to be swayed by a debate.

[Josh Painter]

Wait until Moderate Mitt or Big Spender Santorum gets on the debate stage with Obama and come out with nothing but a cleaned clock.

Then it will be too late to stop Obama. Four more years of socialism.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Santorum just got done with a debate the other day.

Where was this debate?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes.

I remember how important it was for our candidates to be able to debate! Gracious! It was the end all and be all for knowing the candidates and how they would match up to Barack.

My my, how times have changed.

[Guenevere]

I've sent him quite a few checks, thanks.

But I will have that tea ~

[napscoordinator]

Thank God! We have had 21 debates more than any in the history of primaries or general. I think they all have given way more than necessary. This is the best news I have heard since Tuesday. We are free from another boring liberal media debate. I am glad everyone else is happy too. GREAT NEWS!!!!!

[napscoordinator]

Newt needs to take this ball and run with it.
He needs commercials that mention all the canceled
debates by name and each one showing Newt surrounded
by empty podiums.

Dumb. They can just do a commercial showing that they did 21 debates and show the dead stare that Newt gave when he was caught with his pants down with the Fanny-Freddie stock. Priceless.

[napscoordinator]

Of course Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum both declined, they are both pretenders and THEY ARE BOTH COWARDS..

Oh sure. Try proving that when they have already participated 21 debates. No need to debate the third place finisher....waste of time. Santorum especially has way more important things to do. He just debated Newt before Alabama and beat him. No need wasting his time. Newt is a has been. He is just in the race to ensure that Romney not win. That is all he needs to do is sit down and collect some delegates. He has been given his requirements from the voters.

[Gator113]

Your boy will never win the election....

[napscoordinator]

Your boy will never win the election....

And yours will? Yea right. 2 states baby! Will he get 3????

[Gator113]

They are still cowards.

[Gator113]

I look forward to hearing your cries on the day that your boy finally realizes it’s over.

[Gator113]

Need a link....

[cizinec]

Candidates should change their names to Afeared O’Newt for St. Patrick’s Day.

[trappedincanuckistan]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2859496/posts

The conversation has largely fizzled. Got tired of being told I was a porn enthusiast etc.