Edwards Asks Kerry To Join Him In Four Debates

The following is the text of a letter sent by Senator Edwards to Senator Kerry today:

"Dear Senator Kerry:

I was pleased to learn that your campaign had agreed to debate anywhere, anytime as long as Rev. Sharpton and Congressman Kucinich are involved. I agree one hundred percent.

That is why I am proposing that we schedule four debates as soon as possible in different locations that work for all of us. During this primary, Democrats have made tremendous progress in terms of getting our message out to the American people. They want real change and they are turning to Democrats for new ideas to change our country. And we must use this time to our advantage to showcase our Democratic values to the nation.

I understand that you have accepted the invitation to the Los Angeles Times, CNN event in California. I ask that we also give people in places like New York and Ohio the chance to see where we stand on the issues. There are currently six other invitations that I am aware of and I am sure that we could all agree on three more times and places.

While we are all Democrats, there are very real differences among us, and the American people deserve to know who we are, where we're from, and where we stand on the issues. And I know that the more they hear from Democrats, they will see that there is only one choice in November: sending George Bush home and entrusting one of us to guide the greatest nation in the world.

I look forward to hearing from you and to scheduling our next debates.

Regards,

John Edwards

CC:
Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Reverend Al Sharpton"


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The challenge is out. The candidates really need to debate in more places than just California. Let's see our guys before the important day on March 3rd.

Edwards has too little money, so this is his strategy to get free air time in many states. Kerry would be a moron to agree.

Wasn't he saying something about 'bring it on'?

Seriously, we need to make sure that the general public truly knows these candidates before super tuesday. Kerry should accept if he really wanted to have the (free) opportunity to define himself and get his message out.

I think if he doesn't it would make him look weak. If Kerry thinks his campaign is so strong then he should have no problems with debating his issues. I hope all four accept (including Edwards) who made the proposal. I think it would be good for the party and the voters.

Pew research (linked at Yahoo.com at this moment) indicates that the debates/primaries have helped all the Democrats and hurt Bush. If Kerry is interested in continuing to benefit from this, and/or he is interested in letting more audiences see the differences and similarities between himself and other candidates, he should agree.

That's argued on a self-interest basis. There is also a moral responsibility argument that I'm sure everyone can see.

As is Edwards's challenge. Hell, Kerry may agree to the debates, but I doubt it. The one with the most to gain is Edwards, and if the positions were reversed, you can bet Edwards's advisers would be telling him to ignore the crap out of a Kerry challenge. :) Such a debate removes the frontrunner's primary advantages, and gives free publicity to the second place guy. It's a lose-lose for the frontrunner.

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