Edwards challenges Kerry to series of one-on-one debates

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Raja Mishra and Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 2/19/2004

NEW YORK -- Fresh off a strong second-place finish in Wisconsin, Senator John Edwards prepared yesterday to run an underdog campaign against Senator John F. Kerry, challenging the Democratic front-runner to a series of public debates before 10 states vote a week from Tuesday.

"It's clear from the results in Wisconsin yesterday that the voters in Wisconsin and throughout the country are looking for a debate," Edwards said. "I make myself open and available for debates, and I hope Senator Kerry will do the same thing."

"At first glance, it sounds unfair and undemocratic to freeze out candidates who have already finished ahead of John Edwards in multiple contests," a senior Kerry aide said yesterday.

The Democratic candidates, including Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and the Rev. Al Sharpton, have been invited to a Feb. 26 forum in Los Angeles.

more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/02/19/edwards_challenges_kerry_to_series_of_debates/

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. That's inappropriate

as long as Sharpton and Kucinich are in the race. Tacky.

[Paulie]

2. Exactly

How about a one-on-one with Kucinich??? I'd LOVE to see that one!!!!

[JI7]

5. kerry and kucinich

one on one with kerry and kucinich ?

[Paulie]

9. Please!!!! Make it a double!

One-on-one, with each. It would be quite an event!

An hour, one-on-one with each of the three pairs. THAT would be worth the price of admission! :D

[Lex]

4. Maybe, but it makes Kerry look like

he's on the run if he doesn't respond quickly.

[bearfartinthewoods]

20. plus wasn't he asking for a one on one with Dean at one point?

how can he refuse when he tried to set up the same type of debate before?

[DemDogs]

37. Kerry asked for one on ones with Dean when b/f any votes cast

Whatever the request (and I thought he asked for debates with all), only two candidates have gotten more than 10% of the vote in two or more states (the historic standard, I think, that CNN using).
What's more, before ANY votes were cast, before anyone had gotten 1% of the vote, Kerry kept asking for one on ones with Dean.

[JI7]

3. the kerry guy said kucinich had some top finishes

the guy for kerry said kucinich had some high finishes in some states. does anyone know which states they were ?

[quispquake]

7. He came in 3rd in Maine...

and also 3rd in Washington State...

[JI7]

12. which candidates were on the ballot ?

in those states were all the candidates on the ballot ? or only kerry, dean, kucinich ?

[revcarol]

14. ALL the candidates were on the ballot,

including Clark.

NICE TRY< THOUGH>

[quispquake]

16. I can only speak for Maine (where I enthusiastically voted for Kucinich)

But Kucinich, Dean, Kerry, Clark, & Edwards were all represented (I think Sharpton was too, but he had no designated speaker at the Waterville caucus that I was at)

[revcarol]

10. Washington and Maine. He came in third.

I would say this is more than tacky. IT'S DESPICABLE.

And I would hope that all the Edwards people would get in touch with his campaign and tell him NOT to be such a SLEAZEBALL.

[DaisyUCSB]

27. Was it DESPICABLE Kerry was challanging Dean to a 1-on-1 when 7 or 8

other candidates were in the race?

You're either spouting fake outrage or hypocracy, which is it?

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Nothing sleazy about challenging the frontrunner

It's not John Edward's job to promote the failed candidacy's of Sharpton and Kucinich.

[AP]

6. Lincoln-Douglas?

[LibDemAlways]

8. As long as Kucinich and Sharpton are in the race,

they should be included in the debates. Kucinich kicks ass on the IWR while Kerry falls all over himself trying to explain it away and Edwards apparently agrees with the chimp that it was the "right thing" to do. Voters deserve to hear all points of view in order to make an informed decision.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. I agree that they should be included

That way people can't use that as an excuse when voters pick Kerry of Edwards (as they have been doing so far).

[Rooktoven]

33. So let them have a Kucinich/Sharpton debate right after. --nt

[WiseMen]

11. I think Sharpton is calling for a 1 on 1 debate with Edwards

and Kerry, and Kucinich. I have no problem with 1 on 1 debates.

[Paulie]

13. Bring it on! :D

[Cocoa]

15. how about a tag-team

Kerry/Edwards vs. Kucinich/Sharpton, the centrists vs. the progressives.

[Paulie]

17. We'd need a timer

To keep the waffling from taking most of the free time. :D :D :D

[Skidmore]

19. Looks like Edwards was watching Hardball last night

and is taking campaign tips from Chris, who was jonesing for a two man debate on MSNBC. Matthews basically kept saying that all that was needed is for one of those guys to issue a challenge to the other to debate and dare his opponent to show up as a way to get a debate sponsored and scheduled.

[justinpower]

21. How about an actual debate

not some watered down q&a session where self important media whores spend 2 minutes asking a question and give the candidate 1 minute to respond. How about a forum for the candidates to take it to each other. What passes for debate these days is weak.

[WiseMen]

22. How has Edwards earned a seperate standing from DK and Al?

[SangamonTaylor]

23. delegates n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. Kerry 613, Edwards 192, Sharpton 16, Kucinich 2

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/scorecard/index.html

[AP]

24. Sharpton has 8x the delegats Kucinich has, and Edwards has about 12x the

delegates Sharpton has.

Kerry has about 3.5 times the delegates Edwards has.

I want Ku and Sh in the debates, but I do think Ed has shown that, if this is a race at all, it's a two man race.

[Rooktoven]

31. 26% total vote v/s 2-3 % --nt

[Tweed]

25. Great point!

"At first glance, it sounds unfair and undemocratic to freeze out candidates who have already finished ahead of John Edwards in multiple contests," a senior Kerry aide said yesterday.

Yeah, Edwards has been unable to beat Kucinich and Sharpton in some states. It is a little premature to say that people throughout the country are looking for a debate.

[Algorem]

26. Ford/Lincoln-Mcdonnel/Douglas?

[edzontar]

29. I'd rather watch infomercials on Channel 13 than sit through

This pointless, predictable debate over who is more "electable,"


I have medals!!!!

I speak with a southern accent!!!!

OH please, someone spare us.

[Rooktoven]

32. At the risk of offending the idealist progressive wing--

Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton are irrelevant. DK has been honorable in what he is saying, but has absolutely NO chance in the general. Al Sharpton is a charlatan who is running fo the glory of Al Sharpton (and the ability to spend $3200 of donated money per night on lodging...)

[WiseMen]

34. Well what you just said is offensive and outrageous

[Rooktoven]

35. And true, unfortunately.

Sorry if it hurts.

[Rooktoven]

36. kick --nt