Posted on 04/27/2018 9:03:37 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein has refused an invitation to debate her principal opponents in California's senatorial primary because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday.
Feinstein rebuffed an overture by Indivisible Los Angeles, the local chapter of a Washington, D.C.-based progressive group that works with activists to resist the Trump agenda, to debate three of her top contenders on May 5, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Feinstein campaign initially claimed the senator had a prior commitment in San Francisco on the proposed date. When the progressive group suggested accommodating the event around Feinstein's schedule, even offering to let the campaign pick the date, Feinstein's staff said it would not be fair to have a debate that did not include all of the candidates.
Feinstein, 84, has 31 primary opponents who are vying to prevent her from returning to Washington, D.C. next January. The Indivisible debate, however, would have only included the top four contenders, based on fundraising and polling numbers. The invitees, all Democrats, included Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de León, and two other candidates with little name recognition.
The high number of opponents that Feinstein has drawn is due in part to California's jungle primary system, in which candidates from all political parties face each other on one ballot, with the top two vote-getters moving forward to a head-to-head matchup in November.
A spokesman for the Feinstein campaign, Jeff Millman, said the senator will abide by a promise she made to the editorial board of the San Francisco Chronicle to debate whoever her opponent is in the general election.
"Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election," Millman said.
The debate invitation comes as Feinstein is facing an insurgency challenge from the left in her quest to secure a fifth full term in the Senate. Feinstein's leading opponent, de León, has campaigned on a progressive platform, pushing a single-payer health care system, sanctuary cities, and opposition to President Donald Trump to the forefront of the race.
De León's strategy has paid off with voter enthusiasm; he's currently second to Feinstein in the polls, but his campaign continues to trail Feinstein in fundraising.
A spokesman for de León, Jonathan Underland, said the state senator is eager to debate Feinstein and display the contrasts, in policy and style, that exist between the two candidates.
"We basically said we'll clear his calendar 100%, we'll clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up," Underland said. "We'd love to make it happen, but we want her to be there."
The Mexicans are going to want their own Senator.
Feinstein might be finished.
We need an age limit on politicians. It is not fair they can be corrupt for 30+ years. Spread the graft around.
IT'S THE LAW!! DEAL WITH IT.
THE ARROGANT CRIMINAL B***H THINKS SHE WAS ELECTED TO HER OWN PRIVATE TYRANNICAL PLAYGROUND.
Arbitrary, capricious and as useful as STDs...
Constituents?
What constituents??
I don’t really understand why Fineswine doesn’t retire, because she and her third husband (she’s outlived Berman and Feinstein), Tricky Dicky Blum have looted millions of taxpayer dollars using her position as a US Senator to “steer” Federal Real Estate business to Tricky Dicky. And at 84, she’s not likely to live long enough to spend her ill-gotten gain. But as things go, she’s less of a problem that de Leon whose real name is just Leon, and we sure don’t need a worthless Mexican in the Senate.
That’s not a good sign. Dianne looks to be hiding from her rival Dems, hoping to run out the clock and retain her position. That approach may not work anymore, Lady Di.
If you’re not up to the fight, tell your donors now.
Nope. Feinstein is going to win because she’s part of the Ruling Class.
WTF????
De Leon has led the charge for gun control at the state level.
84 years old.
Competing with Ruth Ginsburg.
Why would someone want to stay so long among such terrible people?
“We need an age limit on politicians. It is not fair they can be corrupt for 30+ years. Spread the graft around.”
Actually, although she’s the oldest in the Senate, she’s only been there for 26 years. But like our governor, Jerry the fairy Brown, she’s never held a job in the private sector. Her RAT buddy, Leaky Leahy, has been in the Senate for 44 years and he’s only 78!
“Clint Eastwood” Her.
Set an empty chair on the debate stage with her name on it
Diane is getting a little “long in the tooth”. There’s a lot of stuff she can’t remember anymore. Debating opponents would be a disaster and she knows it.
supreme arrogance. Are the leftists so blind? *rhetorical*
why aren’t these people dying like other 80 somethings....the gall and arrogance to be running for a 6 yr term at her age...
As bad as Feinstein is, DeLeon will be 100X worse.
I think the goal here is that she has win-ability, so the lobbyists are lined up to put cash into this ‘cow’. Once elected...in six to twelve months....she will retire, and Jerry Brown will select her replacement (maybe himself, but I doubt it).
I think the insiders have someone that they’d like to set up but they have lousy public numbers and can’t beat the current crowd.
I live in the state and her unwillingness to debate has more to do with serious questions about contracts that her husband has gotten with the state the last 20 years on fast rail through the central valley and other large scale projects. she is corrupt and the state is waking up to it.
At 84, after 26 years in the Senate and 40+ year in public service, it’s time to retire. Thank you for your service, here’s your gold watch. Go home!
Right ?
She’s. Frikin 84
That’s way to old
Reminds me of
Storm Thurmond
Kkk Byrd
And a bunch more old screwballs
New blood !
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