Oct. 15
could be the only chance for voters to see all four gubernatorial
candidates debate each other.
Susan Small-Plante,
campaign manager for Democratic nominee Bob Wise, said today that
Wise will participate in the League of Women Voters' debate. The
nonprofit, nonpartisan organization sponsors a gubernatorial debate
before each general election.
"Bob has
never declined an opportunity to do a League of Women Voters' debate,"
Small-Plante said.
U.S. Rep.
Wise, D-W.Va., has maintained that public debates should be limited
to him and Gov. Cecil Underwood, the Republican incumbent in the
race. The first time he agreed to even appear in public with Mountain
Party Candidate Denise Giardina and Libertarian Candidate Bob Myers
was at the West Virginia Press Association forum on Aug. 19.
At that
forum, Wise said it was unfair for Giardina and Myers to receive
the same consideration as Underwood and him when opinion polls show
them with relatively little support.
"I just
don't think it's fair," he said. "To let 5 percent . . . take 50
percent of the precious debate time."
Small-Plante
said Wise still believes debates should be limited to Underwood
and him.
"We still
feel very strongly that there should be opportunities for substantive
dialogue between the two candidates who have a chance to be governor,"
she said.
That doesn't
mean Wise will absolutely refuse to show up for debates including
the other two candidates, she said.
"Our goal
is for the voters to hear Mr. Underwood and Mr. Wise debate one
on one, and we're still pursuing that goal," Small-Plante said.
Giardina
said she hopes that Wise's attendance at the league's debate will
encourage the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to reconsider
its decision to limit the debate to Underwood and Wise.
As of a
couple of weeks ago, his campaign staff was still shooting down
the idea of a four-way debate, she added.
"I'm glad
he's changed his mind," she said.
Meanwhile,
she's waiting for Oct. 15.
"I'm just
looking forward to the exchange of ideas. I think it's important
for voters to hear a lot of different viewpoints, so I'm glad that's
going to happen," Giardina said.
Myers was
surprised by the development.
"Wise is
going to show, huh?" he said.
That means
the election will actually get around to real issues such as education,
tax reform and gun control, he said.
"We'll
be able to talk about real issues instead of Washington double-talk,"
Myers said.
Underwood
campaign spokesman Rod Blackstone called Wise's decision "fascinating."
"It's nice
to know the congressman has finally seen the error of his ways,"
he said. "It's encouraging that there will be at least one opportunity
for voters to hear from all four people who have earned a right
to be on the ballot. We welcome him."
Published
in the Charleston Daily Mail
