Posted on 04/24/2014 6:10:11 PM PDT by cotton1706
COLUMBIA, SC — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, has agreed to debate his June Republican primary challengers in an event hosted by S.C. Educational Television in collaboration with The State newspaper, The Greenville News and other state newspapers.
ETV announced Thursday that Graham will join the debate, which will take place at 7 p.m. on June 7.
Graham faces six Republican challengers in June's primary as he seeks re-election to a third term. Det Bowers, a retired Columbia pastor, S.C. Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, Easley businessman Richard Cash, Orangeburg attorney Bill Connor, Columbia attorney Benjamin Dunn, and Charleston PR executive Nancy Mace are running against Graham for the GOP nomination.
It is unclear how many of the challengers will join Graham in the debate.
The event, three days before the June 10 primary, will mark the first time Graham has debated any of his opponents.
The six challengers have participated in candidate forums across the state. Graham's absence from those forums has drawn ire from some of his opponents.
Democrats state Sen. Brad Hutto of Orangeburg and Jay Stamper of Irmo, and Libertarian Victor Kocher also are running for the seat.
ETV also has planned debates in other contested races including the Superintendent of Education, Lt. Governor, and the debate for the unexpired U.S. Senate seat, currently held by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-Charleston. “We’re pleased to offer voters the opportunity to hear from the candidates directly in a statewide broadcast,” said ETV President Linda O’Bryon. In addition to the live broadcasts on ETV-HD, the debates will stream live on scetv.org and via participating local newspaper websites to extend the availability of the debates.
Nearly 20 candidates for the races have expressed interest in participating. Finalized dates and times will be announced.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestate.com ...
Don’t get all bothered by a debate no one will watch. The resentment against Graham will not be abated by a good debate performance. He’s very good at being mealy-mouthed. We already know it.
You did good contacting the challengers directly. Let the rest of us go & do likewise.
There may be an assumption among them of goodwill about Tinkerbelle that does not exist nor has it ever. Hope they’re not so naive.
The Capital Machine versus the rest of us, the people. You have truly nailed it!
This will not hurt Graham. Think about it: 7 participates, an opening statement, closing statement, one or 2 irrelevant, soft ball questions each and 60 or even 90 minutes are shot.
To be affective it needs to be one on one with an articulate challenger. Then there would be adequate time to take him apart piece by piece........
This could get interesting. Graham is a shameless liar and like McCain, has a style of debate based on emotions and rhetoric rather than logic and facts. The more aggressive the challengers, the better. We want him to lose it. The audience is important.
For theatre they should all walk over to one podium and tell the people to vote for anyone but the poodle.
But, but just yesterday I was assured that Lindsey had sternly put his hands on his hips and stared down the tea party.
I’m so confused, I thought candidates with a comfortable, secure lead had little to no incentive to debate with sure losers.
Any outrageous thing Graham says that close to the primary will be tough to refute, assuming the media on the next day sides with Lindsey.
Upon further review, my initial hopeful reaction was exaggerated. Yes, there is a reason that Grahamnesty chose this timing and you know the moderators/structure will be in his corner too. A rigged game.
Lindsey is running as a conservative on Tim Scott’s and Trey Gowdey’s coat tails. He runs shamnesty town hall telephone meetings with pre screened callers presented as real callers. Every thing about him is fake. He will fool SC voters once again and win.
He’ll do a lot of Washingtonese...... Referring to Bill numbers to appear knowledgeable, etc.
I don’t foresee totalitarian control of the media changing, do you?
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