Newspaper InsertWinney Responds to Debate Challenge
May 23, 2008
In response to the "debate challenge" issued by Cynthia Lummis through the Casper Star-Tribune on May 21, I will answer her also through the Casper Star-Tribune. For those who missed the "challenge," she called for U.S. House candidates’ debates in all 23 Wyoming counties between the Republican State Convention ending on May 31 and the primary election on August 19.
While the proposition put forward by Ms. Lummis is intriguing, it is fraught with problems. I have already, as other candidates in this race probably also have, accepted numerous invitations to appear at forums and other community activities during the 11 week period of the primary election campaign cycle. Groups such as local Chambers of Commerce, Republican Women’s groups, Wyoming Public Television, the League of Women Voters, and other local civic organizations, have scheduled, and are in the process of planning, joint appearances and/or forums in which we can debate or otherwise interact with each other.
At this time, I prefer to leave this important campaign activity in the hands of local organizers. If, by early July, we House candidates determine that there are not enough such gatherings, or if counties will be missed, we can then put our heads together to try to schedule forums in those communities.
The debate challenge was too vague to take seriously at this time. There were no details as to sponsors, publicity, locations, format, moderators, broadcast possibilities, media coverage or the other important aspects of arranging such group gatherings of candidates. Nor whether other local or statewide Republican candidates would be included. If Ms. Lummis has those specifics to offer, I would be most receptive to scheduling a reasonable number of such campaign debates at times and in places we otherwise might miss.
I think communications on this or similar subjects should be channeled through our respective campaign managers or schedulers, not through local newspapers. If another campaign does not have those names for my campaign, they can refer to my website or contact me for that information.