(Some) of the Senate candidates are set to debate
By Norman Leahy | Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 | Politics, VirginiaSo the Senate candidates will debate — on Pearl Harbor Day — at a press-sponsored event at the Capitol. But not all of the candidates will be on the stage. Just Tim Kaine and George Allen. Is this the Richmond press corps’ high-handed way of narrowing the field? Looking at the criteria for getting into the debate, it’s a possibility:
Besides Allen and Kaine, eligible participants include any declared candidates that average 15 percent or better in published, non-candidate primary polls and have raised at least 20 percent as much money as their party’s frontrunner by the end of October.
I can understand establishing a polling cut off — some may not like it, but it’s an old and accepted tool for keeping gadflies off the stage (and out of the public eye). But the addition of a byzantine fundraising bar is rather gratuitous. In effect, it guards against the possibility, however remote, that a candidate who polls well, but can’t raise much money (or, say, refuses to take contributions from out of state, or take donations larger than a $100, or only begins pulling down serious cash after the established deadline) would appear on stage. That ought to take care of future tea partiers.
Or turn the equation around — a candidate with bags and bags of money in the campaign till who falls short of the 15 percent bar would be out, too. So much for self-funders, then.
What the pressies have done, then, is chosen a format that makes their job easier and keeps the narrative simple. What it doesn’t do is allow for game-changers, surprises, new ways of looking at old topics or even (gasp!) an alternative narrative to develop.
What a shame.
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Post contributor.
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23 Responses to "(Some) of the Senate candidates are set to debate"
Are these rules substantially different from what the rules to participate in a Presidential debate would be? Not really.
In fact, the AP has done something pretty extraordinary — they’ve opened the door to *anyone* who can just put up 1/5th the effort of either major candidate. 1/5th! and only 3/20th of the polling numbers!
Pretty low bar if you ask me.
This should be a good one-on-one between Kaine and Allen, the two most likely candidates, and might very well be a turning point in the campaign.
That being said, planning for Bearing Drift’s proposed U.S. Senate debate among the GOP field the weekend before the presidential primary moves forward.
The media sets a fundraising quota. And what will the money be spent on? Media!
…and consultants. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
These criteria are substantially different from those established for presidential debates. Check out the ones for GOP candidates to participate in the New Hampshire debate in June: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/03/criteria-for-the-new-hampshire-republican-presidential-debate/
Two percent in three polls.
And the financial bar? That’s a new one entirely.
I don’t care what the criteria are, I think it’s inappropriate for the press to be sponsoring a general election debate before the party nominating processes have run their course.
And I say this as someone who has absolutely no doubt that Kaine and Allen will be their parties nominees. But it’s not up to the press to declare that ahead of time. It’s presumptuous.
Always remember: if you adopt the most cynical viewpoint, everything makes perfect sense.
The article announcing the “debate” fails to mention who or what is responsible for the invitation criteria. I guess they’re very proud of themselves.
So, the establishment media host a debate between the two establishment candidates. Nothing sinister here. Politics as theater: “these are your choices, citizen!” Nothing here but the preservation of the perception of choice, where real choice is totally absent. And our vaunted fourth estate is actively complicit.
Vote for debt-raising Kaine, or debt-raising Allen. Vote for big-government Kaine, or big-government Allen. Vote for wealth redistributing Kaine, or wealth redistributing Allen. Vote for crony capitalism Kaine, or for crony capitalism Allen.
Oh, they differ on small things, just enough to make it seem there is a difference.
The ad on BD says “George Allen has a jobs plan.” About a week ago I was all over his web site looking for it; it’s nowhere to be found. Is he just lying his ass off?
Money, mean green money. Time and again this proves that politics is not for you unwashed masses, you poor bastards sit right down and watch how corporate sponsored establishment rinos and progressives keep their fingers around your throats..
Time for va tea party movement to sever ties to the uber wealthy rpv and field a 3rd party candidate? You decide. Think outside the Washington Establishment for a moment guys.. On the otherhand, why bother, the establishment money is good for your business.
I am starting to hope Radtke runs as an independent. Screw Allen.
BTW, I wonder what will happen if Ron Paul isn’t the R nominee?
JJ-”BTW, I wonder what will happen if Ron Paul isn’t the R nominee?”
The Republicans will have some shot at winning?
Dr. Congressman Paul only wins straw polls, not real elections that matter.
Whats the big deal if the gop loses anyway? Heck, the gop voted for the largest debt hike in American history didn’t they? Who/what are we gaining by closing ranks with a bunch of rinos?
Cohen for RPVB Chair anyone?
We need a party that has the gonads to hold the line on conservative fiscal issues. The GOP needs to either return to core conservative principles or they should prepare for what may come. Just look at gop voting records.. Tarp, debt hikes.. Republicans voted for these?
God. Help. Us.
The bottom line–it is not a “debate” which is at issue, it is a pre-primary bipartisan debate between a GOP candidate and Democrat candidate. This flies in the face of the primary election process. If the AP and VCCA are allowed to pull this stunt prior to the Primary, and the RPV or other GOP leaders do not step up, the power of mainstream media will set precedence for this to continue on each election moving forward.
Also, the procedures mentioned above are for partisan debates, i.e., the New Hampshire Republican debate. Is there ever a pre-primary debate between parties, or is this the first?
So the polling % criteria is markedly different than presidential elections, and its basically unprecedented to have a general election debate before the primaries… but I’m told here that it’s no big deal and TOTALLY reasonable.
LOL…up is down, black is white.
I have to say that after reading many websites and blogs about this topic I understand why criteria must be set and I belive this criteria is reasonable. My first assumption was any candidate should be able to debate, but lets be realistic, its a 90 min debate, If all candidates from all parties are allowed in the debate they would have enough time to state their name and where they are from, like the first day of a college class.
Also its not set up by a party or no name newspaper or the national enquirer. Its the Associated Press and the Virginia Capital Correspondents Assoc. which after research I found consist of well respected jounalists from papers like the Washington Post etc. Im not siding with the media, but I imagine those folks have a good understanding on VA politics.
Comparing criteria from this debate to a presidental debate is like comparing apples to oranges. Presidental debates have far more candidates from all over the country so for a candidate to average 3-5% nationwide in a poll they are actually doing something, they split the vote so many ways 5% means that you have some support all over the county. No offense to the VA Senate candidates but if you only average 5% in this race you are wasting our time debating so I think the 15% criteria is more than fair. As far as the fundraising criteria the jury is still out on that, I think maybe it should have been one or the other. But then again it takes both money and support to get elected.
I personally like Jamie Radtke, but from what Ive read she has much less than 15% So although I wish she had more support I understand that she is not a legitimate candidate, So at least hopefully with fewer people in the debate it will be more informative of the candidates positions and I will be able to pick another candidate to support that has a chance at winning.
Aaron… the one part, and perhaps most important, that you omit is the media holding a bipartisan general election debate PRIOR to the primary?
The AP and VCCA are ignoring the fact that scheduling a general election debate months before the primary, circumvents the electoral process and basically tells Virginians that their voices and votes are irrelevant unless you have already decided that Allen or Kaine are your candidate. In fact, you bought into this assessing that a candidate you like is just not a viable.
Nevertheless, the real issue is holding a bipartisan general election debate prior to the Primary. Thoughts?
“turbo”, do you have your RPVB Chair campaign site up on Facebook yet?
Hello Brian… You bring up a very good point and I believe many would agree with you, but Im not quite convinced. I personally like this format of the general election debate before the primary. I would really like it if both sides had two or three viable candidates, As was somewhat the case in 2008 when Terry McAuliffe, former Del. Brian Moran and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds debated against Bob McDonnell.
I have learned this AP Day is an annual event where the AP/VCCA host many jounalist from around the state. This will be the third debate of this same bipatisan type (I think)
The usual party/primary debates GOP or Democratic consist of many candidates with similar ideals and beliefs and it is hard to sometimes tell the differnces in the candidates.
So imagine this if we were lucky enough to get 2-3 candidates in from each side, you would get an idea of where they stand on both their own party issues and also how they would handle attacks from the other side of the isle. And dare I say it but this way you might just find someone who is willing to reach across the isle and work together to get things done. I think it would give you an even better idea of who you want representing your party. That being said as much as id like to see it I just dont think you let someone in a debate just because they are running. I respect the political process and I understand your agument that this circumvents the process, but if you truely are a viable candidate you would be in this debate.
Aaron, by your logic if someone is searching for a car they should review a contract then go shop for the brand they like and settle on the used one they wanted to trade in.. seems logical to me. Hech of a way to close a sale.
Are the Republicans PURPOSELY trying to drive people out of the party? Has anybody considered that the precious Independents might include lots of people, like me, who left the Republican party.
Brian Reynolds: Exactly. I’m glad to see that someone else here grasps this basic point.
The press is supposed to report the news after it happens. We aren’t supposed to decide what the news is going to be and act like it’s already happened.
Aaron,
Too smooth by half. It’s too easy to read through you. Come back with a new name and (hopefully) better training.
“So, the AP knows 2012′s winners? Care to share any stock picks?”
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/so-ap-knows-2012s-winners-care-share-any-stock-picks
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