Bush balks at sites of forums
USTIN, Texas - Governor George W. Bush yesterday agreed to participate in three presidential debates this fall, though he plans to consider dozens of alternatives to the officially proposed sites, thereby threatening to abandon the debate format set by a bipartisan commission.
The Bush campaign cast the announcement in historic terms, saying that because vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney would also participate in two debates, the campaign was agreeing to ''a record number'' in modern election cycles.
''We wanted to show we are absolutely willing and eager to debate by agreeing to a number that is more than the norm,'' Bush communications director Karen Hughes said. In 1992, the presidential candidates also held three debates, but the vice presidential contenders have traditionally held only one, as they did 1992.
The move, which the campaign settled on yesterday morning, suggests that Bush may play hardball with the Commission on Presidential Debates, the bipartisan organization that has structured the debates since 1988. Although the commission laid out a three-debate schedule eight months ago - including one to be held in Boston - the Bush campaign said the group would get no special consideration during negotiations over where and when to debate Vice President Al Gore. Bush spokeswoman Mindy Tucker said the group will ''have to negotiate like everyone else.''
In fact, by unilaterally bypassing the official commission, the Bush campaign appeared eager to set the terms of the debates. According to one Bush aide, the commission has thus far been unwilling to negotiate the timing, structure, and location of the debates, including who would be invited to attend.
''Their position all along has been very rigid and inflexible,'' said Dan Bartlett, a Bush spokesman. ''That's not to say that if they're willing to talk it's off the table. Nothing is off the table.''
As for whether Bush would be inclined to skip a debate held in Boston, where a liberal constituency might rally in support of Gore, Bartlett said: ''Location is in question because we have not agreed to any of them.'' The Boston debate had been set for Oct. 3, with two subsequent debates to be held in St. Louis and Wake Forest, N.C.
The Gore campaign jumped on the announcement immediately, interpreting it as further evidence that Bush is trying to avoid debating altogether. Mocking Bush's refusal to agree to debate until now, Gore campaign chairman William Daley said he would ''welcome Governor Bush's newfound interest in debates,'' but strongly urged Bush to accept the commission's format.
''Our campaign is ready to meet with Governor Bush's campaign tomorrow,'' Daley said in a statement. ''We believe other debates - in addition to, not instead of, the debates proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates - would be in the best interest of the American people.''
Gore agreed months ago to the commission's debates, as well as several others, but would be willing to renegotiate the timing and location, Gore spokesman Doug Hattaway said.
Bush has received offers from 42 different potential sponsors, ranging from the late-night comedy host David Letterman to the Dallas Morning News. Campaign manager Joe Allbaugh and Andrew Card, a Massachusetts native who served as chairman of the Republican National Convention, are in the process of sifting through the various offers, aides said.
After the first televised debates in 1960, presidential candidates did not debate each other again until 1976, and began debating under the systematic organization of the Commission on Presidential Debates 12 years after that. To narrow the event to only serious contenders, the bipartisan commission expects participants to meet three standards: being constitutionally eligible to be president; being on enough state ballots to be mathematically eligible to win office; and having at least 15 percent of support in five nationally recognized polls.
Past controversies over the debate system have focused mainly on who will participate, as third-party candidates fought for a place on the panel. This year, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader is waging a fierce battle to join in, even though he has risen no higher than 9 percent in most polls.
The format, on the other hand, has in most cases been settled by the leading candidates and the commission. The commission this year has proposed several formats, including having one ''town hall'' style debate, and another debate to be moderated by a single person.
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