Posted on 10/17/2002 5:16:58 PM PDT by jmstein7
Lautenberg camp sends his regrets on debate
Torricelli earlier had agreed to face Forrester on "Meet the Press." But the new Senate candidate begged off.
By Tom Turcol
Inquirer Staff Writer Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Frank R. Lautenberg, seeking to avoid debates with Republican Douglas Forrester as long as possible, has refused to participate in a nationally televised debate this Sunday.
Officials at NBC's Meet the Press confirmed yesterday that Lautenberg aides, after delaying a response for two weeks, informed them Tuesday night that their candidate would not debate Forrester.
Sen. Robert G. Torricelli had agreed to the debate before he dropped out of the race and was replaced by Lautenberg as the Democratic candidate two weeks ago.
Lautenberg, a former three-term senator who did not seek reelection in 2000, has yet to debate Forrester, with less than three weeks left until the Nov. 5 election.
Tim Russert, the Meet the Press moderator, has used his show in recent weeks as a debate forum for several top Senate races in the country.
Forrester has agreed to debate at any time, but Lautenberg has shown little enthusiasm for going head-to-head against his Republican opponent in a televised setting.
The only televised debate that the Democratic camp has agreed to is scheduled for the Saturday evening before the election on WNBC-TV's New York affiliate.
Lautenberg campaign officials have limited their candidate's public appearances and stalled on a proposed debate schedule, partly out of concern that he may be rusty after two years on the political sidelines.
Their strategy also reflects an effort to protect his apparent lead. A poll 500 likely voters by MSNBC-Zogby International released this week showed Lautenberg leading Forrester by 48 percent to 36 percent, with 12 percent undecided. The margin of error was 4 percent.
Lautenberg spokesman Tom Shea acknowledged yesterday that their decision was not based on any scheduling conflicts. He said the campaign was weighing debate proposals and would prefer to do a televised debate in New Jersey rather than in Washington, where Meet the Press originates.
"We're sorting through all the requests and deciding which ones we're going to do," Shea said. Responding to criticism from the Forrester campaign, he added, "If I was down 12 points in the polls and not raising very much money, I'd be trying to make an issue about debates, too."
The Lautenberg campaign has also not yet responded to attempts by New Jersey 101.5, the statewide radio station, to stage a broadcast debate.
Shea noted that Lautenberg had participated in a debate with Forrester at the Gannett newspaper offices this week. The debate was not televised.
Forrester campaign officials assailed Lautenberg's refusal to debate this week, saying it was a disservice to voters who deserve a chance to hear from the two candidates before the last weekend of the race.
"Time is running out," said Bill Pascoe, Forrester's campaign manager. "The compressed schedule of this Senate race is solely the Torricelli-Lautenberg machine's own doing - and their constant refusal to debate face-to-face, one-on-one with Doug tells New Jersey just how weak Frank Lautenberg's record is." Betsy Fischer, a producer at NBC News, said Russert was disappointed that Lautenberg had decided "not to honor the commitment that Torricelli and Forrester had made" to participate in the debate.
"It's obviously a race that everyone's watching," Fischer said. "We looked at it as an opportunity for the candidates to come on and talk about the issues."
She added that NBC was surprised that Lautenberg would decline to debate, given that Torricelli, who had been under fire over ethics allegations, had agreed.
"If anybody should have had reservations about coming on and being asked tough questions, it would have been Torricelli."
So in the end, NJ Democrat primary voters didn't choose Lousenberg as candidate, nor do they know anything about what he stands for.
And the NJSC said Lousenberg could go on the ballot to give the voters a choice. Some choice--having a candidate that you know nothing about rammed down your throat.
It is bad enough they weaseled the Lout in at the last minute, but ducking debates should have more than a few New Jerseyites wondering.
I would have tons of 5 sec spots by Forrester saying "Why won't Lautenberg debate?" or "What is Frank hiding?" or similar. It isn't like he has a lot of other things to do! After listening to his "appointment" speech, it is wonder he can function without a drool bucket.
It's because he's getting Altimers Disease. He shows the usual signs. His attention span doesn't last that long.
The Democrats want him in only to replace him, "so the voters have a choice - OUR choice - heheheheh."
The Bosses of the Torricelli/Lautenberg camp found R. Torricelli's unethical behavior unable to win.
In a smoke-filled room, they looked any way out.
The chose a rich man to replace Torricelli. He needed to be able to finance a fast campaign.
Unfortunately, Lautenberg will not debate.
They have again been dishonest with New Jersey. Torricelli was ethically ineligible.
Lautenberg will not debate because his advanced memory problems demonstrate the political bosses chose another ineligible. They are hiding these problems.
In 6 years will we have this multiplied by Lautenberg's advanced age-related memory difficulties? (Cut to spoken mistakes by Lautenberg)
Maybe they could get a chicken, a duck, a turkey, and a weasel, too!
Doug---CALL HOWARD!!!
Doug---CALL HOWARD!!!
Doug---CALL HOWARD!!!
Doug---CALL HOWARD!!!
Doug---CALL HOWARD!!!
Doug---CALL HOWARD!!!
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