Spokane7
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October 19, 2010 in City
Congressional rivals’ debate back on again
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Democratic challenger Daryl Romeyn will debate tonight after all.
The televised debate, which last week was listed as off, then on, then off again, was on again Monday as the two candidates finally both said yes at the same time. Barring some new last-minute change of heart, it will be taped this afternoon and appear at 7 p.m. on KXLY-TV and 8 p.m. on KSPS-TV.
“Both sides have agreed to be there,” Jill Johnson, the producer of the debate, said Monday morning.
Discussions for the debate began in mid-August, but a time and date for taping were still under discussion last week when McMorris Rodgers’ campaign said she wouldn’t participate because of scheduling constraints. It was the first time in more than four decades that the incumbent in Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District had refused to debate, and McMorris Rodgers faced a barrage of criticism.
On Friday, she offered to debate, but Romeyn said no, saying he’d accepted other commitments after she turned down the debate. If McMorris Rodgers wanted to debate, he said during an interview on KXLY-TV, she could show up at one of his scheduled appearances such as one that night in Loon Lake: “Get on your bike and ride.”
Then it was Romeyn’s turn to come under fire. Sunday evening Romeyn contacted Johnson and said he would reschedule those commitments to allow him to debate today. A candidate forum planned for Deer Park this evening was canceled, he said Monday.
The two stations agreed to air it in the time slots they’d previously planned.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
spokanecommunistparty on October 19 at 12:52 a.m.
TV is going out of style because it sucks…
drywitt99 on October 19 at 5:53 a.m.
Oh…..just like communism??
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 19 at 6:31 a.m.
Still determined to choose NOT to vote on this particular ballot race… If enough people just don’t vote in this race by a large percentage it might send a message of discontent without voting for Mr Romeyn. John
IoneAgain on October 19 at 7:57 a.m.
The foot-dragging by McMorris was tactical as she waited for the ballots to be in voter’s hands. Now, by putting off a debate this long, already her flock have cast their votes. Romeyn is intelligent, passionate, and will do well. But her people will have spoken. Don’t you think she knows that?
Nothing has ben left to chance. Romeyn has asked for a debate all-along. By allowing him to make dates in his campaign, then to suggest she’s available when she knows he’s booked? It makes him look bad, which was the intention.
Notice how McMorris is standing aside John Boehner at every podium opportunity in media over the last year (until her pregancy)? Don’t you find that a tad interesting? Here’s a woman whose well-connected father spirited her into the role initially. And how compelling she’s become. A smart-enough woman, party oh-so-entrenched, with a special needs child, and now pregant. She’s the hope, and there’s plenty of time to groom her and avoid Palin-esque faux pas. Don’t you see it? She’s on target for a VP role (at least).
This is soap opera politics, and we the people are just shallow enough to buy-in. Too busy for politics friends? Romeyn, I sure wish you well tonight.
liarsinnews on October 19 at 10:41 a.m.
Hey Chef Gus, wouldn`t voting for Mr. Romeyn be the same as not voting at all? Common sense would dictate he doesn`t stand a chance anyway. And for cryin out loud if by some quirk he were to win, heck he would not be worse than Rodgers.
spokanecommunistparty on October 19 at 12:18 p.m.
Cathy McMorris voted to go into Iraq
spokanecommunistparty on October 19 at 12:29 p.m.
Cathy McMorris = George W Bush
misjustice on October 19 at 2:02 p.m.
Cathy McMorris = George W. Bush in drag!
Not a pretty picture!
; )
schleufer on October 19 at 8:20 p.m.
just watched it. daryl…you nailed it!! the more it went on the more comfortable he looked and the redder her face got. i dont think she expected him to have so many answers and facts especially about her.
i voted daryl the day i got the ballot, cant say i have ever voted for anyone without really knowing anything about them…no regrets here. she has got to have butterflies over this one.
good luck daryl
Shadedmuse on October 19 at 8:31 p.m.
Cathy is more like the quitter twitter from Alaska.