The Daily Press this morning joined the growing chorus of Virginians asking ‘why won’t Ralph Northam debate in Hampton Roads or Richmond?’ in a blistering editorial that highlighted the need for more debates in the 2017 gubernatorial campaign:
“Keeping Hampton Roads entirely off the debate schedule leaves local residents with no opportunity see how candidates will respond under pressure to topics with significant regional impact.
…
Mr. Northam agreed to just three debates and seven joint speaking opportunities, not including the proposed Hampton Roads event.
As lieutenant governor, Mr. Northam has name recognition, and therefore an advantage this campaign season. His error is using his political advantage to trample on the needs of voters.
The Northam camp argues its candidate held a debate in Hampton Roads against Democratic challenger Tom Perriello in March. The event was a race to see who could raise their flag first atop the liberal ladder, and it lacked the substance of a debate between opponents from opposing sides of the political spectrum.” (Daily Press, 8.7.17)
As has been noted by numerous media outlets, Ed accepted invitations to gubernatorial debates all across Virginia, including in Hampton Roads and Richmond, where Northam has refused to debate, depriving Virginians in those regions reasonable opportunities to host debates.
The Daily Press noted:
“To his credit, Mr. Gillespie accepted invitations to 10 debates — including one hosted by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce — and 10 joint speaking opportunities.” (Daily Press, 8.7.17)
Today’s editorial comes as a recent study has found that Hampton Roads is the only major metropolitan area in the country to see a decrease in its employment rate over the last year. (NPR One, 8.7.17), further heightening interest in the candidates’ policies and plans for the region.
The Daily Press is just the latest media outlet to express concern over the lack of gubernatorial debates.
The Virginian-Pilot has scolded Northam for avoiding debates.
- Hampton Roads overlooked in gubernatorial debate schedule (Editorial Board, The Virginian-Pilot, 7.28.17)
- “…Hampton Roads has been ignored once again when those seeking to serve as the state’s chief executive start lining up debates. And blame for that, it must be said, is not shared equally.”
- Debate snub of Hampton Roads says more about the region than it does about Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates (The Virginian-Pilot, 7.28.17)
- “Northam believes he’s the front-runner, and the conventional wisdom is he doesn’t want to expose himself to things that could knock him off his perch.”
In a July 31 interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt questioned why Ralph Northam refuses to debate in Hampton Roads and Richmond?
HUGH HEWITT: I’ve been reading the Virginian Pilot – they’re upset that you’re not doing any of the debates down in Hampton Roads and they think they’ve been snubbed. What’s your response to that, Governor? I’m getting ahead of myself, Ed Gillespie.
ED GILLESPIE: First of all, I like the way you think, Hugh, the power of positive thinking. But they are being snubbed. And Hampton Roads is a critically important part of the Commonwealth and you know, it’s where our port is, so many military installations, you know, critically important in terms of our economy. I think in a lot of ways for the next thirty years really needs to be an economic driver for Virginia and we should have a debate here and the Lt. Governor turned down the Hampton Roads debate and that was a mistake, I believe. I’m in Norfolk right now as I talk to you and I’m here all day and a bunch of tomorrow in Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach, and Newport News, and Norfolk and you know, this is a critically important area and the issues here are different than in Southwest Virginia. I’m glad we’re having a debate in coal country. But we, and of course Northern Virginia, we’ll have a debate there. But to not have a debate in the Richmond area or the Hampton Roads area, I think is a mistake. I accepted ten and I would do, clearly I would do nine more. My opponent unfortunately has only agreed to two more. He turned down a debate in Richmond hosted by former Governor Doug Wilder that would have been good for us.
HEWITT: You know I can’t understand that, I really don’t. I think people ought to keep that in mind that Ed Gillespie is willing to go anywhere and debate but he’s getting dodged.