Home   News   Schools   Sports   Biz   Opinion   Health   Scitech  Arts   Dining   Movies   Outdoors   Weather   Comics   Archives  NM Jobs Cars Real Estate

          Front Page  news  state

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Mescalero To Host Senate and House CD2 Candidates

By Tim Korte
Associated Press
      Senate candidates Steve Pearce and Tom Udall will be in the same building at the same time.
    Just not in the same room.
    Representatives for each campaign confirmed Friday the candidates agreed to a July 26 forum at Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, N.M. But because of differences over the format, they won't be on stage together.
    The Mescalero event also marks the first faceoff since the June 3 primary between Democrat Harry Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley, who are seeking to succeed Pearce, R-N.M., in the 2nd Congressional District.
    Instead of a debate for the Senate event, as the New Mexico Farm Bureau initially proposed, Democrat Udall will speak first for 30 minutes, then take questions. When he leaves, Pearce gets 30 minutes to speak, followed by questions.
    "Both candidates have a great opportunity to address the group, to present and share ideas as well as take questions," Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said. "It's a very important venue. We look forward to talking and comparing ideas."
    But this is not a debate, since the candidates won't be able to interact before the audience or question each other.
    According to the Pearce campaign, the Republican was looking forward to a debate format and reluctantly agreed to the revision after Udall balked.
    "It's a campaign. We need to debate the issues," Pearce spokesman Brian Phillips said. "They were going to have two podiums set up and let the candidates ask each other questions until Udall put his foot down and said, 'No way.'"
    Padilla said voters at the forum will be able to ask questions to see where the candidates stand on the issues that matter most.
    "We expect there to be several opportunities for the two to debate in the fall, and we look forward to that," she said.
    Phillips said Pearce campaign officials were enthusiastic about a proposed debate and, after learning of Udall's concerns, encouraged Farm Bureau officials to stick to their original plan.
    When it became apparent that wouldn't work, he said the Pearce camp moved ahead.
    "We pushed back a little bit but ultimately we decided the people deserve to hear what we have to say," Phillips said. "We feel New Mexico voters will be well served by the forum."
    Unlike the Senate candidates, Teague and Tinsley agreed to share the stage. Their format provides for opening statements, questions from the audience and the chance for a brief rebuttal if one candidate mentions the other.
    "It's kind of a debate. I would call it a debate," because House candidates can respond to each other's remarks, Teague spokesman Alex Cole said.
    The forums are part of the Farm Bureau's two-day summer gathering.

Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.