Dean Must Challenge Kerry to 1on1 Debate. Dean Gets Opening, Kerry Gets

[WiseMen]

Tested by Fire.

Kerry challenged Dean to a 1-on-1 debate when Kerry was down in NH.

Dean is now down. Maybe Kerry would accept the challenge.

We could then get a real chance to see how they perform when really
under the grill and when they can side-step issues by taking
advantage of the 60 sec format of these riduculous 9 or 7 person
beauty contests.

What do you all think. Dean has nothing to loose.

As a Kerry supporter, I don't see that he has much to gain. I would worry that he could stumble or be undermined by Repub-like questioning. But Kerry is going to face that sooner or later, and it could reduce sniping from Dean supporters and create some goodwill that is much needed to go up against Bush.

I would be willing to watch the nail-bitter.

[WI_DEM]

1. it would be a good debate, but

I doubt that Kerry will accept for the same reason Dean didn't--too dangerous for a front runner.

[sangh0]

3. plus, Dean would look bad

after refusing Kerry's challenge to debate. It would look like desperation. Just imagine the pundits saying "When Dean was leading he could ignore challenges. Now that he's struggling, he's willing to consider taking risks he wouldn't take before"

[Hawkeye-X]

22. Kerry is just afraid

He's just afraid of true debate and Kerry getting slapped by Dean. Even a retarded monkey could slap kerry in a debate.

[WiseMen]

27. Why hasn't Dean accepted Kerry's challenge even now.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. That's Why He Took Apart Bill Weld In Six Debates...

Kerry debating Dean would be Abraham Lincoln debating Fred Flintstone...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. It would be silly for Kerry to do that at this point.

Back when Kerry issued his challenge, he was trying to make it a two-man race. Now, he's trying to make it a one-man race.

[Jim Sagle]

4. Excellent theater - a hoarse voice vs. a horse face.

[lurk_no_more]

10. Do you really think Kerry has a

hoarse voice? He sounded pretty normal the last time I heard him speak.


And then there were none!
” JAFO”

[oasis]

24. Dean has a tough enough time one-on-one w/Sharpton. He's not ready.

[WiseMen]

26. Whoa. That tough!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. hmmmm

maybe Howard Dean could scream at him....

[kerry-is-my-prez]

5. No way will Kerry do it when he's this much ahead....

[WiseMen]

6. Dean Should at least Test Him, Unless he feels he would loose debate

[Kahuna]

7. Kerry to Dean: Talk to the hand.

}(

[WilliamPitt]

8. Didn't Kerry challenge Dean to this some weeks ago? Didn't Dean refuse?

[WiseMen]

11. Dean Refused when he was 15 points up. Now he is Down is makes sense

Kerry is obviously in his rights to ignore such as request given
Dean's earlier refusal.

But, I know that Kerry folks have a lot of respect for the grass-roots effort that was backing up Dean's candidacy and might be
willing to make a concession to establish goodwill.

Lot's of logistic questions at this late date, of course. But, what does Dean have to loose if he really believes he has a stronger
candidacy that John Kerry.

[zulchzulu]

9. I doubt Dean wants to really debate Kerry now

Trippi has made him scared of his own shadow. Also, there is nothing more that Kerry would like than to debate Dean, but I'm sure the campaign just wants to run out the clock.

[WiseMen]

13. If Dean Believes in his candidacy he should. Perhaps a 3-way Debate

Kerry, Dean, Clark.

[lurk_no_more]

12. dean won't challenge

Kerry already did and dean bowed out for obvious reasons, nothing has changed to make dean better at a one on one.

dean couldn't compete then and can't compete now that the fires gone out.


And then there were none!
” JAFO”

[WiseMen]

30. Would be great to have some real debates before Prims over

[returnable]

14. The worst PR move either Kerry or Dean could make...

...at this point would be to marginalize the candidacies of Clark & Edwards.

[WiseMen]

15. Kerry Challenged Dean before. Was that Good PR? Real Debate could be HOT

Frankly, the Dean of Scream has attained almost rock-star status.
Kerry's Iowa Jedi reality shift also has a lot of public interest.

I am sure some promoter could get the Fight booked and let the
earnings go to the winner's campaign.

[returnable]

17. No, it wasn't good PR...

...and, not coincidentally, it coincided with Kerry's dip in the polls.

It made him look petulent.

[Raya]

18. Kerry repeatedly challenged Dean. No negative PR that I saw. I showed his

willingness to face detailed questioning, and self-confidence.

[returnable]

19. I guess it's a matter of perception

From where I sat, Kerry spent the entire Fall nipping at Dean's heels, and just sank lower and lower in the polls.

The calendar turned, he focused on his message in Iowa and forgot about sniping at Dean, and climbed back into the race.

[Raya]

20. Not quite what happened. But let's not get into it. Now history.

[Raya]

16. Those Canadian Clips showed Dean's a great debater. Should be good if it

happens. Not much time for any planned media event thought. Probably impossible to do.

[drfemoe]

21. not interested

Kerry has been demanding a one on one with Howard Dean since way before NH polls showed anything. He's so special.
EOM

[LiberalBushFan]

23. I said the exact same thing for Dean Clark or Edwards

as soon as Kerry became the frontrunner. But I think as this point Clark is the one who stands to benefit most at this point. In fact he might NEED to do this now. Someone should really make this suggestion to the campaign peoples.

[WiseMen]

25. Kerry has said repeatedly that he is willing to do small 2, 3 4 person

debates to allow a fuller discussion of the issues.

Why won't any of the others take him up on it. I there someone
blocking this?

I just think that Dean is in a jam now. He may be able to save
his candidacy with this. Plus, he may now be a real audience draw
so it could be a legitimate ratings event.