Statement & Background on Angle’s Refusal of US Senate Debates
As the Reid campaign noted earlier today, Sharron Angle's and her new DC handlers are refusing to participate in two non-partisan statewide debates that we accepted more than a month ago. Angle's own public statements make clear she never intended to debate, and is throwing out smokescreens and lies to avoid the wrath of Nevada voters who deserve a serious dialogue on the issues.
Angle has stated publicly that she won't participate because of the Broadcasters Associations' choice of moderator and would debate with right-wing hosts like Sean Hannity or Rusty Humphries who have openly supported her campaign and allowed her to use their "news" programs to raise money. That's absurd, and is simply not going to happen.
In addition, the latest phony excuses offered by Sharron Angle's new DC handlers to avoid debates -- now regarding early voting -- are a conveniently-manufactured standard that no candidate has ever offered, and that precedent suggests is preposterous. Angle herself had no problem debating during the early voting period in her 2006 race when she faced Dean Heller and Dawn Gibbons. Also, in the 1998 US Senate race between Sen. Reid and John Ensign, no less than two joint appearances/debates occurred once the early voting period had started.
Because they have no desire to debate, Angle's new DC handlers started using the arbitrary early vote deadline after it became clear Sen. Reid might still be in Washington, DC doing his job fighting for Nevadans, again indicating they'd prefer to keep their candidate muzzled, but don't want Nevada voters to see through their smokescreen.
FLASHBACK: Angle Debated Dean Heller And Dawn Gibbons During Early Voting In Their 2006 Primary. On August 1, 2006, Angle debated Dean Heller and Dawn GIbbons on Nevada Newsmakers. That year, early voting began on July 29. [Nevada Newsmakers, 8/1/06]
1998: Reid And Ensign Debated And Had A Debate-Like Joint Appearance After Early Voting Began. On October 19, 1998, Reid and Ensign debated on KKVV-AM. That year early voting began on Saturday, October 17. Reid and Ensign also had a debate-like joint appearance at the Reno Rotary Club on October 26. [Associated Press, 10/17/98; Associated Press, 10/20/98; Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/27/98]
