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DEL.ICIO.USWhitehead spurns last two debates for a paid TV barrage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With two weeks to go, Jim Whitehead hit the airwaves Wednesday. On his own terms.
A Republican and the best-funded entry in the 10-candidate race for the 10th District congressional seat, Whitehead launched a 30-second TV spot that pitches him as the natural successor to U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, who died in February.
It comes on the same day that the Athens Press Club hosts a debate to be broadcast on WGAU (1340 AM). Whitehead intends to skip the gathering, as well as a June 12 televised debate sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia Public Television.
The content is almost wholly introductory, and much like a radio ad already aired by the candidate. “When we lost Charlie, we lost a great congressman, and I lost a great friend,” Whitehead says to the camera.
But there is a subtle difference. In the radio ad, Whitehead said he’d fight for “Lower taxes, stronger economy and to control our borders.”
In the TV ad, the former Columbia County senator adds “and to defeat terrorism.”
Whitehead has been criticized, particularly by Democrat James Marlow, for ducking any extensive discussion of Iraq, not a topic likely to stir the passions of Republicans these days.
Ten-candidate debates can be pure torture, both for the audience and the participants. Look at the presidential versions. Or better yet, don’t.
That aside, in strategic terms, it’s easy to explain Whitehead’s decision to skip the last two debates. He’s considered by nearly all parties as the front-runner.
To win without a run-off, Whitehead needs 75 percent of the Republican vote in the district. That’s a difficult goal. Appearing at joint forums allows other Republicans, including Paul Broun of Athens and Bill Greene of Braselton, to whittle away at Whitehead’s GOP base — and permits Marlow to solidify Democrat support.
Whitehead has also been guilty of some verbal gaffes that have provided his rivals with ammunition — for instance, his statement that Iraq was not a “big issue” in the district.
The Athens forum is a solid two hours. That’s a long time on the hot seat. And remember that Athens is one of two population centers in the 10th District. Unlike Augusta, it’s a bastion of Democratic votes.
We talked to John Stone, who was once right-hand man to Norwood and is now giving advice to the Whitehead campaign. Stone pointed out that Whitehead did participate in a recent debate in Augusta — friendly territory for his candidate.
“It was a well-formatted, very fair debate,” Stone said. The rules made it difficult for candidates to confront one another. The program was recorded by a local cable company. The Whitehead campaign intends to post a link to it on its web site.
Stone said Whitehead has events that conflict with the final two debates. “Everybody’s missed some for various and sundry reasons, he said. But at least when it comes to tonight’s event in Athens, there was another reason as well.
“It wasn’t entirely formatted to what we wanted,” he said.
Comments
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By Craig
June 6, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
I will steal a line from Roger Ailes about the Dems avoiding Fox for their Presidential debate: “The candidates that can’t face Fox, can’t face Al Qaeda.”
Can we apply this to Whitehead? He’s running from his fellow office seekers, the media (print, radio, and TV), and the full audience of his district. He claims he can stand up to Congress and face Congress but he cannot even face his competition and debate why he is so qualified. Yes, he can say he is taking his message directly to the people. But what better medium to reach more than print, radio, and television? Can he claim to face opposition in Congress but hide from competition for this seat?
By Dan
June 7, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
Whitehead is an accident waiting to happen. Some of his own handlers have accused him of being the one most likely to implode. He is an embarassment to us all.