There may not be a debate between Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman until March of 2010, and that is not guaranteed.

But there sure is a battle over the debate issue between the two campaigns.

After Meg Whitman told me Tuesday, “I think we did ask him whether he wanted to debate in the fall and I’m not sure exactly what the answer was,” it launched a behind-the-scenes “He said, She said” debate debate.(My initial post with audio from the half hour interview with Meg on 1380 KTKZ.)

The question, who is really dodging the fall debates?

Before I walked into the 1380 KTKZ studios Thursday morning, I received the following letter from Steve Poizner Campaign Manager Jim Bognet directed toward Whitman’s campaign manager:

Dear Mr. Gomez:

This past Tuesday on KTKZ’s Capitol Hour featuring Eric Hogue, Meg Whitman excused her conspicuous absence from debates held so far during the Republican gubernatorial campaign with a tale that we both know to be completely and demonstrably false.

In response to a question from Eric Hogue about the three debates that Meg herself requested with Steve Poizner this fall, Meg Whitman stated:

WHITMAN: You know, I think we did ask him whether he wanted to debate in the fall and I’m not sure exactly what the answer was. I’ll have to find out. I mean, there wasn’t a series of responses that he gave us on that.

HOGUE: So let me reiterate this here. Your campaign did ask the Poizner campaign for three fall debates and they either said no or didn’t get back to you. You don’t know, but you remember this happening.

WHITMAN: I think that’s right, Eric. I think that’s right. We can check with our campaign manager, but I’m pretty sure we extended a reach-out to do debates in the fall and I’m not sure we actually ever heard back.

Unfortunately, Ms. Whitman’s assertion was false. We both know that I sent you a letter on August 3, 2009 accepting Ms. Whitman’s challenge to debate Steve Poizner three times in the fall. In fact, our campaign hand-delivered a copy of my acceptance letter to one of your many campaign consultants in Sacramento. As you and Ms. Whitman well know, there have already been two well-documented debates this fall that Ms. Whitman refused to participate in:

• On October 28th, Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell debated “Solutions to California’s Fiscal Crisis,” at Brandman University in Orange County. Meg Whitman did not attend, although she was in Southern California that day.
• On September 10th, Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell debated on the Ronn Owens Show on KGO Radio in San Francisco. Meg Whitman did not attend.

 

Ms. Whitman herself emphasized at a speech at the California Republican Convention in September that “Californians want to trust their leaders again. They want to be told the truth.” But Ms. Whitman has failed in her obligation to tell the truth, both regarding Steve Poizner’s position on debates and her own interest in debating Commissioner Poizner three times this fall.

Elections are about choices, and debates are an essential way for Californians to make an informed decision about which candidate is best equipped to create jobs, jumpstart our state’s struggling economy, and lead us into the next decade. Californians deserve to be told the truth, which is why Ms. Whitman’s insincere claim about wanting to debate three times this fall and her untrue assertion that Steve Poizner failed to respond to her invitation to debate are of particular concern to voters in our state.

Despite Ms. Whitman’s refusal to participate in the two Republican gubernatorial debates that have already taken place since September, I am eager to see if she will fulfill her promise to debate Steve Poizner this fall. There are still 39 days left in the fall to debate, and Steve Poizner stands ready to debate Ms. Whitman, anytime and anywhere. In fact, I would encourage Ms. Whitman to reconsider an invitation to debate from the Claremont Institute on December 5, 2009, which she recently declined. This is yet another opportunity for all of the Republican gubernatorial candidates to debate their policy solutions to the problems facing California today, and for Ms. Whitman to fulfill the promise she made to the voters of our state.

The simple question remains: Will Ms. Whitman’s actions match her words? Will she agree to debate this fall?

Californians want leaders they can trust. Steve Poizner is earning their trust day by day and debate by debate. Californians deserve the same from Meg Whitman.

Cordially,

Jim Bognet
Campaign Manager
Steve Poizner for Governor 2010

Then, shortly after the Capitol Hour, I received a copy of a follow-up letter sent from Whitman Campaign Manager Jillian Hasner to the Poizner Campaign:

November 12, 2009

Mr. Jim Bognet
520 Capitol Mall, Suite 220
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Mr. Bognet:

As you know, Meg has announced her intention to debate after the filing deadline in March, when the field of candidates is official. While you may not like this decision, it was made after we failed to receive a timely response to our letter of April 30th offering to discuss fall debates. If you were so intent on debates in the fall, perhaps you should have made a good faith effort to reach out to us last spring.

It is our understanding that your campaign has yet to accept the New Majority Orange County Debate on March 15. Meg and Tom Campbell have already agreed to debate that day. We hope your campaign will eventually decide to participate.

Provided your candidate is still in this race, we anticipate a spirited discussion of the issues on March 15th.

Regards,

Jillian Hasner
Campaign Manager
Meg Whitman 2010

This campaign is fully underway, the backyard fights are starting to pick up in frequency before we enjoy our thankful turkey feasts and mistletoe kisses.

And remember, this is no small issue here; debates are vital to the voter’s choice and each citizen’s desired direction of the election – and their state. There is no two-ways about this issue, we need multiple debates that include Tom Campbell, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman.

We need to hear more from Steve Poizner’s solution strategy, we need to see Meg Whitman in the midst of the fire, if she is able to take her sound-bytes and formulate them into practical objectives that deliver California from its mired fiscal lot. And we need to listen closer to Tom Campbell, can he be more than just a financial director? We need debates, and more than just a few.

Now, I also know that it can be hard to organize an event that satisfies each candidate’s strengths and threat concerns. Since I’ve decided to not endorse a gubernatorial candidate until May of 2010, I have personally inserted myself in the debate mix.

On behalf of my employer, 1380 KTKZ, I personally offered two specific weeks during this fall calendar for these three candidates to debate. One event was to be held in October at William Jessup University and another for set for a week in December.

According to my records, both of these official requests were unfulfilled due to the schedule conflicts for Meg Whitman. You can make of it what you will in the midst of the “He said, She said’ charges.

As I have said in previous posts, there will be no debates between Steve Poizner, Tom Campbell and Meg Whitman anytime soon.