Stage fright aborts Souder-Parra debate attempt

[Freddie Stubbs]

Maria Parra said it was a case of stage fright; Mark Souder said it was his opponent's inexperience.

But whatever it was that caused Parra to balk twice Thursday during the taping of the only debate between the Democratic challenger and Republican U.S. Rep. Souder, it may have been her only chance to face off with the incumbent congressman.

Parra had laid down the gauntlet to Souder to agree to a debate. When it finally was arranged, it was to have been videotaped Thursday at WPTA-TV then broadcast three times before the Nov. 2 election.

Parra won the coin toss, electing to go first in making a minute-and-a-half opening statement.

In her remarks, she said she was born and raised in Fort Wayne, and had lived for a time in the East, where she worked for various Fortune 500 companies such as IBM and Dupont.

more: http://www.thepostandmail.com/articles/2004/10/22/news/news/news02.txt

[Bunny]

1. I saw a clip of that. It was bizarre.

What on earth was she thinking?