Good thing the race isn’t in my state. Anyone who is too cowardly to appear in a debate will never get my vote, no matter who it is.
The West Virginia Broadcasters Association extended an invitation to both candidates to appear in a debate that would be broadcast on many West Virginia commercial radio and television stations in mid October. Raese’s campaign agreed but the Governor said no and cited a scheduling conflict. When additional dates were offered the truth came out from Manchin’s campaign – there would be no debate.
http://blogs.wvgazette.com/squawkbox/2010/10/03/did-manchin-refuse-to-debate-raese-one-on-one/
What you don’t know, Joe has been in the “the seat is mine” routine since his announcement for the position. His poll numbers has edged down every week for the last four weeks. Joe can’t get his numbers to move. Ras announced a 7 point lead for Raese last week. So Joe becomes desperate, and calls Fox and lays out a challenge for John. Now John has the momentum and the lead why go on TV to help Fox’s ratings. Most conservatives that I know don’t watch TV or very little. I get my information gleaned off the Internet. I have already voted for John and many Tea Partiers have too. What could John say or Joe for that matter that would change a person’s vote? No conservative nor independent would give another Democrat vote to Obama and his agenda. That is what this election cycle is all about. John Raese is a very good, successful, business man and very conservative. Manchin is taking it on the chin, has has back tracked on Cap and Trade and Obamacare in the last two weeks. Manchin ads don’t even say Democrat on them, I’m told. John had nothing to win or prove to show up at the last minute besides a possible ambush? John will win even with the Fairmont Mafia Joe is tied in with.
http://www.wvared.com/?tag=larry-puccio
This guy is under federal investigation. He is Joe Manchino’s right hand man and Democrat Party leader. He has gone underground till after the election. Most WV’ians know why. Manchino is in trouble. So his last minute debate on Fox is a drowning man grabbing at water.
I haven’t seen evidence Raese is unwilling to debate. In his own state he will. On national tv he won’t. Since he isn’t running for President there is no reason he needs to accept an invite on network tv to debate.
Conservatives have got to make up their minds. On the one hand you have conservatives screaming at Republicans to avoid any possible misstep and just stay at home and campaign there. Next I know people think they should take national media up on the offer.
Rand Paul went on national tv, they used it against him. Since then he’s stayed close to home and everyone said it’s what he should have done to begin with. I’m not saying someone is right or wrong to do one of these national debates but if they choose to localize the election to avoid a costly mistake 2 weeks before the election on tv I don’t blame them.
Raese is probably up in the polls and doesn’t want to do any damage at this stage. Manchin is an experienced Dem pol, so he’s expert at pretending to be a conservative and could trip up Raese.
Don’t be fooled. A vote for Manchin is a vote for Reid or Schumer as majority leader. It’s the leadership that decides everything; a junior senator will be a Dem robot voting for everything that conservatives hate.