Posted on 06/22/2004 6:21:05 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Neugebauer, Stenholm agree to face off in series of three debates this autumn
BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
U.S Reps. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, and Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, have agreed to three debates in the fall.
The freshman Republican is facing the 25-year Democratic veteran in the District 19 congressional race in November.
The only caveat Stenholm issued is that he sees no need to stop at just three debates, said Robert Hinkle, Stenholm's campaign communications director.
"We want to debate those three times, plus 10 more times, 20 more times," Hinkle said.
The three proposed dates for the debates are Sept. 30, Oct. 8 and Oct. 13, immediately preceding presidential campaign debates between Presi dent Bush and Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee. Proposed locations include Lubbock, Abilene and Big Spring, according to information from Neugebauer's office.
Stenholm and Neugebauer were thrown into the same congressional district during a redistricting battle initiated by GOP members to increase Republican seats in Washing ton.
"I believe that debating Congressman Stenholm immediately before debates between President Bush and John Kerry will take advantage of the fact that voters will have their attention focused on the November election," Neuge bauer said on Monday.
In a letter to Stenholm, Neugebauer suggested that the timing and format of the proposed debates will give West Texans the opportunity for a side-by-side comparison be tween Republican and Demo cratic views and agendas.
"The differences will be clear and each voter can make the best decision for them and their family who they want to represent them in Washington," Neugebauer wrote.
The tone of such statements indicates that Neugebauer's campaign aims to exaggerate the political differences be tween the two candidates, Hinkle said.
"They're going to try to make Charlie Stenholm look liberal, which is about as ludicrous as you can get," Hinkle said.
While Stenholm agrees to the three dates, Hinkle said logistics haven't been worked about.
"I don't know how you're going to have ... three debates in prime time," Hinkle said.
But if the television stations agree, "We say fine," he said.
p.christine.smith@lubbockonline.com 766-8754
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