The debate is on (KKT To Debate Ehrlich Next Thursday---C-SPAN?)

Baltimore Supercast ^ | September 18, 2002 | Jeff Abell

[PJ-Comix]

It appears the debate is on. The NAACP says it's moving forward with plans for next Thursday's gubernatorial debate.

Jeff Abell: NAACP leaders have spent most of this day meeting with the Townsend and Ehrlich camps trying to hammer out plans for a debate and it appears all systems are go. When the two candidates shared the stage at the last NAACP event, it became a political forum.

Rep. Robert Ehrlich / (R) Candidate for Governor: "You deserve a debate!"

Now, it appears Republican Ehrlich and Democrat Townsend will get a debate at Morgan State University next week and both seem eager.

Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend / (D) Candidate for Governor: "There are real differences between my record and his record. There are differences between what we want to accomplish and I want to make it clear people see those differences and I am eager to debate."

Rep. Robert Ehrlich / (R) Candidate for Governor: "Hopefully we can have a series of high profile debates around the state throughout the election season with regards to many issues that impact Marylanders today. There's no reason that should not happen. Next weeks a start but it needs to go from there."

But on Tuesday, the NAACP announced the debate could be postponed to give both candidates more time to work out the details. But after day and night meetings with both camps, the NAACP says it appears the debate is on.

Rep. Robert Ehrlich / (R) Candidate for Governor: "At least we're engaging in front of the public and that's what counts."

Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend / (D) Candidate for Governor: "The fight has begun."

The NAACP will be meeting with both camps again Thursday morning. One issue yet to be decided is the length of the debate. The NAACP wants three hours.

[PJ-Comix]

So will this debate be on C-SPAN next Thursday? If you know the answer, please post here.

[sauropod]

KKT has said previously that the time to debate is after
the general election. I kid you not. 'Pod

[mr.sarcastic]

Yep, definitely looks like a go, here's what I got straight from the mouth of the horse (I've been emailing one of her campaign staffers harassing them about when they're going to debate):

Hannah Powers (hannah@friendsofkathleen.com) wrote (September 19, 2002):
Dear Sir,
Once again thank you for asking about the debates, we are ready to go up against the Ehrlich campaign on Thursday the 26th. The Lt. Governor and Congressman Ehrlich will debate at Coppin State University, the debate will be hosted by the NAACP and is expected to be aired on MPT. We are very excited for the opportunity and I hope that KKT is able to convince you that she is the more qualified candidate who is in step with Marylanders.
Hannah

On August 12 she told me this:

.....As for the issue with the debate, the Lt. Governor is very eager to debate Congressman Ehrlich. His voting record during his time in Congress is something that she is very eager to have him explain, however it is not typically protocol for candidates todebate each other before they have received their parties nomination. After the Sept. 10th primary the two candidates will participate in numerous debates.

I will be following up with her about the "numerous" part shortly. :-)

[mr.sarcastic]

Ehrlich enjoys stepping into the fire with all of these NAACP hosted events. He handled himself well the last time.

[mr.sarcastic]

Hmmm...found this in the Sun just now... so is it Morgan State or Coppin State (as the campaign staffer told me):

Ehrlich-Townsend debate confirmed for Morgan State

The two major party candidates for governor will debate for the first time Thursday evening at Morgan State University, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People confirmed yesterday.

The NAACP is sponsoring the face-off between Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. The debate has been scheduled for several weeks, but the NAACP had said this week that it might be postponed.

G.I. Johnson, president of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP, said the two campaigns are working out the details, but both have agreed to meet Thursday at Murphy Fine Arts Center. Neil E. Duke, vice president of the branch, will moderate the televised session, Johnson said.

[cajungirl]

Woo hoo,,should be a good one. Hehehheeh.

[staytrue]

The feeling in the Townsend camp was that they would offer to debate Ehrlich with the NAACP as sponsors. Ehrlich would decline to debate in a rigged forum and then Townsend could label Ehrlich as racist. Ooops. Plan failed. Ehrlich is not a racist and Townsend is so bad at public speaking (maybe private speaking too) that even in a rigged setting, Ehrlich will still triumph.

[kayak]

fyi

[Pippin]

Thanks, Kay!

[PJ-Comix]

Ehrlich is not a racist and Townsend is so bad at public speaking (maybe private speaking too) that even in a rigged setting, Ehrlich will still triumph.

So will this debate be broadcast on C-SPAN? If so, I will definitely be popping a tape into my VCR and set it to "Record." I need the laughs from seeing KKT's Deer-Caught-In-The-Headlights look.