Wicker runs away from Neshoba County Fair Debate
Crawfishes on commitment,
blames Democratic Leader for scheduling votes
…but none are currently scheduled
From a press release:
Interim U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker yesterday backed out of a scheduled candidate debate with Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. The debate, scheduled for July 31 at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, was accepted by both candidates more than a month ago.
Wicker claimed the press of Senate business, and important votes, yet was able to find time out to speak at the fair on Wednesday morning, July 30. Wednesday is smack in the middle of the Senate work week.
"I like to believe you can take a man at his word, but Wicker agreed to this debate weeks ago and now he crawfishes out of it," said Tim Phillips, campaign manager for Musgrove's Senate campaign.
There has been no change in the Senate schedule in the weeks since Wicker agreed to the debate. While it is possible that votes may be scheduled on July 31, none are currently scheduled. It is just as possible that votes might be scheduled on June 30, when Wicker will be at the Fair.
A copy of the Senate yearly schedule, prepared at the beginning of the year, is attached. (calendars can be found below)
"If he can't keep his word about this, how can Mississippi voters trust anything he says?" added Phillips.
Boom goes the dynamite!
ReplyDeleteIt’s easy for the Musgrove campaign to criticize since they are not in position to conduct business in Washington. Odds are the Wicker staff was not totally committed to doing a debate from the start and why should they.
ReplyDeleteWicker has nothing to gain in debating Musgrove, no matter how well he does. He can only lose and be brought down to Musgrove's level. Musgrove should be foaming at the mouth to take a bite out of Wicker's friendly media coverage, but Wicker's team seems to know better. Musgrove has only attacked since day one. Musgrove needs to rebuild and remind voters about his reputation as Governor instead of attacking Wicker. The media is not buying it. Barbour did not debate Eaves until he had to and now is not the time for Wicker to face off with Musgrove. Musgrove will get his chance, but in the mean time, Wicker seems to ride a wave of good, friendly media coverage without having to say a word about Musgrove and what campaign doesn’t like that.
So yes it's politically advantageous for him to not debate, but it's bad for Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteWe should see them together.
Debating at the Neshoba County Fair would put both candidates at a disadvantage. It would be very difficult to orchestrate a fair debate with the distractions of fair goers coming and going, and many would be yelling and screaming. The speeches from Eaves and Barbour were heated enough and they were not debating.
ReplyDeleteGood, fair debates can only be conducted in a controlled environment and the Neshoba County Fair is far from being controlled.
Town Hall meetings will be good places to have Musgrove and Wicker express opinions and views on issues from the voters. That’s what this thing is all about, and voters being allowed the opportunity to spearhead the questioning will show what these guys are made of.
I think the Wicker campaign is just trying to save the people of the Neshoba County Fair from Ronnie's voice.
ReplyDeleteThe negative ads are getting really old! But keep it up if you like Wicker for the Senate.
ReplyDelete