WETTERLING DROPS OUT OF DEBATES!
In a previous post, I wrote about Patty Wetterling's inability to answer any questions about her positions on the issues facing the voters of the 6th congressional district.
Now Wetterling has decided to back out of all the debates that were scheduled. I can't imagine why after her wonderful performance at Farmfest.
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Wetterling to miss debates this week
By Lawrence Schumacher
One candidate's decision to back out of scheduled debates this week is raising questions about whether voters will get to see candidates for the 6th Congressional District go head-to-head on the issues this fall.
Patty Wetterling last week announced she won't participate in debates her campaign agreed to attend Tuesday in St. Cloud and Wednesday in Forest Lake.
She cited a scheduling conflict with her daughter's wedding this weekend.
The St. Joseph DFLer's campaign immediately issued a news release inviting her opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, to join her for five debates in September and October.
Kennedy's campaign and the Minnesota Republican Party quickly accused her of avoiding a discussion of the issues.
Yet Kennedy's staff made no promises that he will attend future debates.
This raised ghosts of the 2002 Congressional race, in which Kennedy and his then-opponent Janet Robert debated each other only once before the election.
Wetterling and Kennedy shared the stage for the first time at Farmfest 2004 near Redwood Falls earlier this month in a candidate forum that, by Wetterling's own admission, caught her off-guard.
The 6th Congressional District includes all or most of Anoka, Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington and Wright counties, including the St. Cloud area.
Family conflict
Wetterling backed out of a St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce forum scheduled for Tuesday and a debate Wednesday at the Forest Lake VFW, though they have been scheduled for six weeks.
Campaign spokesman John Schadl chalked it up to a staff scheduling error, saying Wetterling never intended to do any campaigning the week before her daughter's wedding.
"It was very important to Patty to spend that time with her daughter, who is moving out of the country a few weeks after the wedding," he said. "We really messed up. We're also canceling five fund-raisers that week."
Schadl said he hoped the debates could be rescheduled for another date.
Wetterling's decision is a disappointment to Chamber members, who looked forward to a lively discussion of taxation, health care, transportation and the war in Iraq, said Teresa
Bohnen, president of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.
"It's frustrating," she said. "But we're going to go ahead as scheduled and have it be a question-and-answer session with (Kennedy)."
Political hay
Wetterling's announcement drew swift criticism from her opponent.
"There's no question Congressman Kennedy looks forward to engaging in a frank and open discussion of the issues," said Ryan Christian, Kennedy spokesman.
"We committed to four debates, three this week and Farmfest. We've had one, but the Wetterling campaign decided we shouldn't have the others."
Republicans suggested her performance at Farmfest, where she pleaded ignorance on several topics, has scared her off.
"Patty Wetterling either doesn't know the issues or doesn't want voters to know what her positions are on issues that matter," said Randy Wanke, communications director for the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Wanke said Wetterling also bowed out of a Minnesota Transportation Alliance forum scheduled for Thursday, but Schadl said the campaign never agreed to participate in that forum.
A spokesman for the Transportation Alliance was not available Friday.
Other debates?
Wetterling suggested both candidates participate in five more debates in September and October ‹ on the PBS television show "Almanac," on a KSTP Channel 5 televised debate, at an AARP forum, at a St. Cloud State University Women's Center forum and at the League of Women Voters/St. Cloud Times Voter's Choice Forum.
"If we were running scared, I don't think there would be other debates we're offering to do," Schadl said.
Kennedy has not committed to those events, which are scheduled for after Congress is back in session in Washington. People expect Kennedy to be doing his job in Washington during the session, Christian said.
"After Labor Day, we go back into session in Washington and that can prove difficult for scheduling purposes," he said.
In 2002, Kennedy missed several debates that were scheduled for the same period.
Robert typically canceled when she learned that Kennedy would not attend.
The two finally met at the St. Cloud Chamber forum days before the general election.
Debating the debates
Debates are useful tools for voters, but backing out of untelevised forums this early in the campaign probably won't have any impact on Wetterling's campaign, said Stephen Frank, political science professor at St. Cloud State University.
"I think most people could care less, honestly," he said. "It's not fall yet, despite how it feels outside. It's too early."
Challengers usually want more debates because it raises their profile, said Kay Wolsborn, professor of political science at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University. Incumbents don't feel the need to debate as much because they have a record and are better known.
Wetterling's high profile in the state may change that equation somewhat, but she needs to prove herself on the issues, Wolsborn said.
"I think she needs to debate, and I think she knows that," she said. "The question is how much and how soon."
Now Wetterling has decided to back out of all the debates that were scheduled. I can't imagine why after her wonderful performance at Farmfest.
##
Wetterling to miss debates this week
By Lawrence Schumacher
One candidate's decision to back out of scheduled debates this week is raising questions about whether voters will get to see candidates for the 6th Congressional District go head-to-head on the issues this fall.
Patty Wetterling last week announced she won't participate in debates her campaign agreed to attend Tuesday in St. Cloud and Wednesday in Forest Lake.
She cited a scheduling conflict with her daughter's wedding this weekend.
The St. Joseph DFLer's campaign immediately issued a news release inviting her opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, to join her for five debates in September and October.
Kennedy's campaign and the Minnesota Republican Party quickly accused her of avoiding a discussion of the issues.
Yet Kennedy's staff made no promises that he will attend future debates.
This raised ghosts of the 2002 Congressional race, in which Kennedy and his then-opponent Janet Robert debated each other only once before the election.
Wetterling and Kennedy shared the stage for the first time at Farmfest 2004 near Redwood Falls earlier this month in a candidate forum that, by Wetterling's own admission, caught her off-guard.
The 6th Congressional District includes all or most of Anoka, Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington and Wright counties, including the St. Cloud area.
Family conflict
Wetterling backed out of a St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce forum scheduled for Tuesday and a debate Wednesday at the Forest Lake VFW, though they have been scheduled for six weeks.
Campaign spokesman John Schadl chalked it up to a staff scheduling error, saying Wetterling never intended to do any campaigning the week before her daughter's wedding.
"It was very important to Patty to spend that time with her daughter, who is moving out of the country a few weeks after the wedding," he said. "We really messed up. We're also canceling five fund-raisers that week."
Schadl said he hoped the debates could be rescheduled for another date.
Wetterling's decision is a disappointment to Chamber members, who looked forward to a lively discussion of taxation, health care, transportation and the war in Iraq, said Teresa
Bohnen, president of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.
"It's frustrating," she said. "But we're going to go ahead as scheduled and have it be a question-and-answer session with (Kennedy)."
Political hay
Wetterling's announcement drew swift criticism from her opponent.
"There's no question Congressman Kennedy looks forward to engaging in a frank and open discussion of the issues," said Ryan Christian, Kennedy spokesman.
"We committed to four debates, three this week and Farmfest. We've had one, but the Wetterling campaign decided we shouldn't have the others."
Republicans suggested her performance at Farmfest, where she pleaded ignorance on several topics, has scared her off.
"Patty Wetterling either doesn't know the issues or doesn't want voters to know what her positions are on issues that matter," said Randy Wanke, communications director for the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Wanke said Wetterling also bowed out of a Minnesota Transportation Alliance forum scheduled for Thursday, but Schadl said the campaign never agreed to participate in that forum.
A spokesman for the Transportation Alliance was not available Friday.
Other debates?
Wetterling suggested both candidates participate in five more debates in September and October ‹ on the PBS television show "Almanac," on a KSTP Channel 5 televised debate, at an AARP forum, at a St. Cloud State University Women's Center forum and at the League of Women Voters/St. Cloud Times Voter's Choice Forum.
"If we were running scared, I don't think there would be other debates we're offering to do," Schadl said.
Kennedy has not committed to those events, which are scheduled for after Congress is back in session in Washington. People expect Kennedy to be doing his job in Washington during the session, Christian said.
"After Labor Day, we go back into session in Washington and that can prove difficult for scheduling purposes," he said.
In 2002, Kennedy missed several debates that were scheduled for the same period.
Robert typically canceled when she learned that Kennedy would not attend.
The two finally met at the St. Cloud Chamber forum days before the general election.
Debating the debates
Debates are useful tools for voters, but backing out of untelevised forums this early in the campaign probably won't have any impact on Wetterling's campaign, said Stephen Frank, political science professor at St. Cloud State University.
"I think most people could care less, honestly," he said. "It's not fall yet, despite how it feels outside. It's too early."
Challengers usually want more debates because it raises their profile, said Kay Wolsborn, professor of political science at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University. Incumbents don't feel the need to debate as much because they have a record and are better known.
Wetterling's high profile in the state may change that equation somewhat, but she needs to prove herself on the issues, Wolsborn said.
"I think she needs to debate, and I think she knows that," she said. "The question is how much and how soon."
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