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Posted on 10/07/2002 9:10:15 AM PDT by NEWwoman
First debate may be Davis, Simon's last One month before election, campaigns can't agree on events
By Alexa H. Bluth
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gray Davis and GOP challenger Bill Simon will face each other in a debate Monday for the first -- and possibly only -- time before the Nov. 5 election. The noontime debate sponsored by the Los Angeles Times will be televised live in only a handful of large markets and is not expected to attract large numbers of viewers because of its timing.
In the Bay Area, the debate will be televised live on KTVU Oakland. The showdown will be the first time in the campaign that Davis and political newcomer Simon share a stage. It also might be the only time, with the election a month away and the campaigns unable to agree upon a date or details for a second debate planned by Spanish-language broadcasting giant Univision.
"It's a rare opportunity to look at these candidates standing next to each other and answering similar questions and see what they are both made of," said Mark Baldassare, survey director for the Public Policy Institute of California.
The debate comes in the closing weeks of a campaign that has failed to excite voters, with Davis struggling to recover from the political fallout of the state's energy crisis and Simon's campaign suffering from a series of missteps.
Recent polls show Davis leading by surprisingly low margins for an incumbent Democrat who has spent millions saturating television airwaves with ads touting his record and bashing Simon. Simon, meanwhile, battered by a series of controversies surrounding his family investment firm, has sought to direct attention to Davis' record-breaking fund raising.
Simon has criticized Davis for agreeing to just two debates, one of which has not been solidified, and has sent daily press releases titled "Davis Debate Dodger." Davis aides said he is busy with state duties.
Political analysts said that the burden in the debate will be on Simon, while Davis simply must avoid a major blunder.
"What Simon has to accomplish is a flawless performance. He certainly has the most to lose by making any missteps," said Carole Kennedy, a political science professor at San Diego State University. "Governor Davis simply has to perform adequately."
During the hourlong debate, Davis is likely to bring up Simon's conservative stance on social issues such as abortion and gun control, in addition to his business woes. Simon, meanwhile, likely will focus on Davis' fund raising, and the state's energy and budget woes.
Simon will aim to "show a strong contrast with Gray Davis," said campaign consultant Sal Russo.
Russo said Simon also will attempt to reintroduce himself to voters because the cash-strapped campaign has gone for long stretches without television ads since Simon won in the GOP primary.
"People have forgotten him a lot," Russo said. "They need to be reminded ... why it is they liked him so much in the primary."
Davis plans to highlight his record and accomplishments in office, said campaign adviser Garry South.
"Unless one candidate or the other makes a huge screw up they usually don't change the dynamic of the campaign. I don't think this one will either," South said.
The debate is to be broadcast live on selected television stations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento.
Hal Fishman, anchor and managing editor at KTLA-TV News, will moderate the debate. Panelists include: Janet Clayton, Times editorial page editor; Times political columnist George Skelton; and Randy Shandobil, political editor, KTVU-TV (Fox) Oakland.
http://www.graydavis.com
http://www.Simonforgovernor.com
No, he's chicken. Go Simon!
"Political analysts said that the burden in the debate will be on Simon, while Davis simply must avoid a major blunder."
Could it be that the Trib wants to help Davis keep viewership down? Nah...
I think it is as the a TV commentator said on the News last night: It's like a football game. Davis is ahead by 3 points. There is 2 minutes left in the game. Davis is stalling. He does not want Simon to make a touchdown and win.
No doubt he's stalling. But an incumbent governor whose office is safe is generally not going to consent to debate at all. Why should he if he's got a solid lead? It only gives the challenger an opportunity to surge ahead.
I think Davis' internal polling numbers are nowhere near as optimistic as those in the widely reported push polls. That's why he has to allow Simon this opportunity to corner and embarass him on the budget, on the pay-offs, on the energy crisis, ad infinitum.
Davis-Simon debate slated for today may be scrapped over green party candidate (davis finds way out)
Davis came off sounding mean and petty, reusing his canned attacks on Simon that we've heard already in the past, and often ignoring the debate questions outright to rattle off his list of distortions.
The debate seemed really short, and I wish it were longer or that there were more debates for more people to see the vast difference between Simon and Davis.
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