The Great Debate

Ok, maybe not. But Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Angelides' campaign teams are trading barbs over how many times the pair will meet and "debate the issues" this fall. It started the day after the primary when Schwarzenegger campaign manager Steve Schmidt released a letter to Angelides manager Cathy Calfo. Here's what Schmidt said: Californians deserve debates and the Governor is very much looking forward to the opportunity to discuss California's most important issues in a public forum. The people and the state will benefit from an honest discussion about the clear choice in this election. The Californians for Schwarzenegger debate negotiators will be Steve Merksamer, former chief of staff to Governor George Deukmejian, and former state Senator Jim Brulte. Our representatives look forward to meeting with yours in the very near future to discuss the debate schedule. Please let us know as soon as possible who will represent your campaign in the debate negotiations. So this week Calfo resonded--with the acceptance of eight proposed debates. But Calfo was playing a bit coy, writing "You and I should be able to quickly come to an agreement on a matter as simple as the debate format. A simple, generally accepted debate format, as we have suggested below, will assure that an open and spontaneous exchange between the candidates and questioners occurs." Well, that "simple format" is never so simple. Here's what Calfo pitched: 1. Questions are not made available to or prescreened by either campaign; 2. No written notes are allowed at the podium; 3. Multiple opportunities are provided for the candidates to question each other; 4. Brief opening and closing statements are made by each candidate (1 to 2 minutes); 5. Standard response (1 to 2 min) and rebuttal (30 sec to 1 min) times within a 1-hour debate format; 6. Candidates stand next to each other, at podiums. Schmidt sent back a letter today in which he seemed none too pleased. Thank you for your letter regarding debates. While I appreciate your ongoing correspondence, it doesn’t seem that it is moving us forward in this process and in fact seems to be moving us backwards. Look how Schmidt even managed to sneak the campaign theme into the first sentence. Schmidt went on to ask about who the debate negotiators were for Angelides and who Brulte and Merksamer should contact "to begin realistic discussions about the debate schedule and format". Schmidt also offered some insight to Schwarzenegger's plans for a single debate. Historically in California, incumbent governors participate in no more than one debate. That precedent dates as far back as Governor Ronald Reagan. With the exception of Governors Reagan and George Deukmejian, who did not participate in an official debate at all in 1970 and 1986, others such as Governors Wilson and Davis participated in one debate. That's fine and dandy, and as Dan Weintraub pointed outyesterday incumbents generally prefer fewer debates. Bottom line: Schwarzenegger will ultimately decide how many times he debate--and it's a safe bet the number will be less than eight.