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Both candidates balk at U.S. Senate runoff debate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know that U.S. Senate debate planned for this Sunday — the one with PBS’ Judy Woodruff as moderator?
It just got very iffy.
The Democratic campaign of Jim Martin just announced that former Vice President Al Gore will be campaigning with Martin that day.
“That scheduling conflict will likely prevent Jim from participating in the debate,” spokesman Matt Canter said a few minutes ago.
The Republican campaign of incumbent Saxby Chambliss was also pointing to other commitments this morning, citing a fund-raiser aimed for Sunday. “At this point, the dates and times that have been offered — we have scheduling conflicts,” said spokeswoman Michelle Grasso.
Grasso said the 14 days remaining before the runoff have become doubly valuable for Chambliss, since a lame-duck session of Congress has required his presence in Washington.
Lauri Strauss is executive director of the Atlanta Press Club, which is sponsoring the Senate runoff debate and two others. Strauss said the organization isn’t giving up on Martin and Chambliss, although this Sunday is the only day the event can be taped at GPTV studios on 14th Street.
Neither campaign appear exceptionally eager to engage in Sunday’s confrontation.
And avoidance is to be expected from a front-runner. Usually, demands for a one-on-one appearance come from the fellow who’s behind.
The absence of that insistence could be a sign that both Martin and Chambliss think the game’s within reach — and that a Sunday debate, hours before voters shut down for a long Thanksgiving holiday, isn’t worth the risk.
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Comments
By Red
November 18, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
Please do not let these two have a debate. They have both told so many big ones that a debate might win an Emmy for historical fiction. Just make them STOP the ads - my mute button is worn out. Thank goodness Saxby’s poor mother is no longer gracing the tube! Isn’t there a law against abusing your elders? Does the TV ad qualify? I am sure she wants her little red haired boy to win but I did not vote for him. Why? I contacted Saxby one time about an issue important to me. He dismissed me with the “good ole boy pass the buck rhetoric.” So by voting for Martin, I am returning the gesture. How does it feel to be dissed Saxby? The recorded calls from Sonny Perdue and Fred Thompson did not help you a bit. Although, I did enjoy telling Sonny’s recording off - as that is the closest I will ever get to him as he does not listen to the voters and tax paying citizens of Georgia. As much as I like Law and Order, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR YOU!
By Laughingly Similar 2U
November 18, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
Jim Martin knows he’s a milquetoast. His wife reminds him everyday. So does the bully down the street, who steals his lunch money. And Jim Martin cant do nothing about it cause he’s a little girlie candidate with a bow tie.
Bwa haw.
By Jim
November 18, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Why debate an idiot. All Chambliss could hope for is to look like the lesser idiot.
By jacksmith
November 18, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
WE HAVE MORE TO DO:
Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush’s Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.
At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.
You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don’t have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.
He supposedly works for you. But he doesn’t think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn’t that just make you BURRING MAD!
Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family’s, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.
Don’t let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He’s not one of you. He is on George Bush’s side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.
Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.
As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss “Let Them Eat Cake” vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don’t have to be Saxby Chambliss’s victims anymore.
I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.
God bless all of you
jacksmith - WORKING CLASS… :-)
By jjv
November 19, 2008 5:23 AM | Link to this
jacksmith-LOL, you losers are pathetic! All you can do is hold your hand out for something for nothing and whine when you don’t get it. You will have your vote bought time and again without regard for who has to pay for what you consider to be your right to have.
Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame, liberal because in the next 18 months to 2 years you will see it all come crashing down around your ears as the puppet in the White House realizes just how far in over his head he is and the people who votes he BOUGHT with his promises hasn’t a chance of coming up with even 5% of what he promised.