The University of North Carolina’s TV station will be hosting two televised gubernatorial debates, on September 24 and October 8. All three candidates who are on the ballot are invited. The three candidates on the ballot are the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian nominees.
This is the first time that any minor party candidate for Governor or U.S. Senator in North Carolina has been included in a televised debate with his or her major party opponents. Congratulations to Mike Munger. For more about his campaign, see www.munger08.com. UNC-TV has said that even if one of the major party nominees fails to show up, the debate will go on without him or her. Thanks to Tom Howe for this news.
A few groups sponsoring debates in PA have used this tactic (we promote the use of this tactic) to get the incumbent to show up for the debate. In a two way race, if one candidate refuses to debate, there is no debate. With three candidates, if the sponsoring body announces up front that the debate will go on as long as two candidates show up, and sticks to that commitment, the hold-out candidate almost always shows up, especially with a televised debate. No candidate is willing to let their opponents get that free air time without getting some themselves.
Good for Munger, good for N. Carolina, and good for real debate in this country.
I’m a Libertarian citizen of NC, am active in the party, and know Mike Munger personally. As far as I can tell neither of the major party candidates have agreed to the UNC debates. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are afraid to show up. I’ve not met the democrat, and have met the republican. Munger far outclasses both of them intellectually, and as a speaker. Good luck Mike.
Marty