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August 12, 2008

Debates touchy topic for Hackett, Carney

GOP challenger wants eight. Hackett attack ads irk Carney, who has agreed to one debate

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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More than a month ago, Chris Hackett challenged his opponent, freshman U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, to a series of eight debates this summer and fall. To date, only one debate is scheduled and it was actually agreed to before Hackett’s debate challenge was issued.

“It’s been a month where Chris Carney has continually ducked more debates. Debates are part of the American democratic structure and it’s disappointing Chris Carney has refused,” said Mark Harris, Hackett for Congress campaign manager.

Rebecca Gale, a spokeswoman for Carney, said the campaign is “looking into” the possibility of additional debates. She said Hackett “needs to start real campaigning.” She suggested Hackett traverse the 10th Congressional District and hold “listening tours” rather than running attack ads through the media.

“Chris Carney’s been going all around the district holding town hall meetings in each county,” Gale said. She said Hackett wants the debates as a means of free advertising and said the challenger shouldn’t “dictate debate schedules.”

“If he’d behave himself, perhaps we’d discuss more debates,” Gale said.

Hackett, a Kingston Township Republican, said he won’t back down from challenging Carney to debates. He has challenged Carney to three televised debates in October and five single-topic debates before October.

“I will continue to ask Carney for eight debates, because that’s what voters deserve. If he’d prefer them in the form of joint town hall meetings, I’d be more than happy to do that.”

The only scheduled Hackett/Carney debate thus far will be held Oct. 30 at the WVIA-TV station in Jenkins Township.

Ron Krisulevicz, news director for WBRE-TV and WYOU-TV, said offers for live televised debates were extended to both Hackett and Carney. In a letter mailed out July 31, the candidates were offered four dates in October. Krisulevicz said the Hackett campaign “has warmly embraced the invitation. They said they’d do it any place, any time.”

He said the response from the Carney camp has been less than enthusiastic. “I’ve been working on this for a couple weeks,” Krisulevicz said, pointing out he’s made calls, e-mails and sent the letter. He said that other than a brief e-mail from Gale saying she’ll pass along the information to Carney’s campaign manager, Vince Rongione, and a handful of brief non-committal phone messages from Rongione, he’s been left in the lurch.

“Right now I have no idea what Congressman Carney’s intention is,” he said.

Krisulevicz said similar invitations were sent to U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, and his 11th Congressional District challenger Lou Barletta, the Republican Hazleton mayor. Like Hackett, Barletta accepted the invitation while Kanjorski’s campaign responded but hasn’t accepted the offer yet.

“I’m not surprised the incumbents haven’t displayed a willingness (to debate). I’d still like to have some correspondence,” the news director said. He said he envisions a town hall debate “somewhere in the district,” likely aired live from 7 to 8 p.m. Dates offered to the campaigns were Oct. 7, 14, 15 and 16. WNEP-TV also expressed an interest in broadcasting a debate, according to Harris. A message left Monday with WNEP-TV General Manager C. Lou Kirchen was not immediately returned.

Andrew M. Seder, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7269.

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