We know what the best answer is. What the most likely answer is, I have no idea.
Lupe Valdez
The back-and-forth over when and where the two major candidates for Texas governor will debate continued Wednesday, with Democratic nominee Lupe Valdez announcing that she had accepted an invitation to a debate featuring a different host, location and time than the one that incumbent Republican Greg Abbott agreed to a week earlier.
The invitation Valdez accepted was for a debate on the evening of Monday, Oct. 8, at the University of Houston-Downtown. It would be organized by the local ABC and Univision affiliates. A week earlier, Abbott announced he had agreed to a debate hosted by Nexstar Media Group on the evening of Friday, Sept. 28, at a yet-to-be-determined location in Austin.
After Abbott’s announcement, Valdez said she was “in” for a debate but took issue with the timing of Sept. 28 event — a Friday evening in the middle of high school football season. Her campaign said Wednesday that any debate between the two should be at a different time and be broadcast live on television and online, feature a live in-studio audience and include a Spanish-language media partner with a portion of questions in Spanish.
“I’m running to represent all of Texas, and if there is going to be a debate, town hall or other type of forum, we need to ensure a real discussion for all of Texas to hear,” Valdez said in a news release that called on Abbott to “stop hiding from Texans.”
See here for the background. The right answer, of course, is for both of these debates to happen. You know, for Democracy! and all that. Realistically, Greg Abbott can say “hey, I’ve already agreed to a debate, and wasn’t Lupe Valdez less than eager to engage in debates against Andrew White”, and when he does, what’s the response to that? By all means, push for more, but the leverage is not at all with Valdez.
Valdez has nothing to gain by debating abbott, sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing. These are not ordinary times. Think of all the judges that get elected and no one has an idea of who they are.
Couple things… It ain’t a debate unless both parties running are there. If it’s only one of them, that’s an infomercial. Second, she doesn’t want to debate on a Friday night during football season ? Priorities, honey, priorities. Third, Manny, this isn’t a criminal/civil trial where the witness isn’t required to testify against herself. If Lupe wants to be Governor, then step up and debate the incumbent.
It doesn’t appear Loopy is up for this game.
What are the benefits, changing the argument to it ain’t a criminal trial does not explain anything. One debate using the format of Abbott proposes will not increase her chances.
Debates normally don’t change anyone’s minds. But if you want to vote for the Trump Party nothing is stopping you.
This election cycle people will either vote for the Trump Party or for the Patriotic Party aka Democrats.
Manny,
A state governor can’t really help or hurt Trump. I actually agree that Lupe should not debate, because she is not a strong speaker. She will just make herself look worse. She gets straight ticket D voters, most of the Mexican American vote and the GBLT vote already. People who base their votes on a debate…. she isn’t going to win them over against Abbott.
Collier at least has a chance to make Dan Patrick look bad and maybe pick up some debate watcher votes.
Manny, the benefit is the Texas people get to see the candidate for office answer the questions posed to him/her. Deciding not to debate because the public may recognize the candidates faults is not a winning strategy for anyone. Might as well not put your name on the ballot if you’re not going to go whole hog.
And for the ninth time, I’ve never said on this forum whether I’m a Dem, Republican, Libertarian, Green Party member, nor have I ever said who I voted for in the past or who I will vote for in the future.
I will say I agree with Trump on the one thing – both Dem and GOP representatives alike have done some pretty crooked shit in the past. Very few previous and present Politicians are squeaky clean.
Bill, Trump will hurt Abbott and all other Republicans, just let Trump be Trump.
C.L. Friday night, most people will not be watching, besides all one learns at a debate is who is a better liar, or speaker. If they are worth their salt they will say what their handlers tell them they should say.
Besides Trump being so racist, I actually agree with a few things Trump is doing, he has no principles but then most politicians don’t either. But he is the most corrupt politician in a long long time. He is also probably one of the dumbest politician and certainly the dumbest president.
C.L. look at the 2014 Results not much difference between state wide candidates
http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist175_state.htm
November vote straight Democrat the last year one can vote straight party. Republicans changed the law when Democrats started doing what they did.