Reno agrees to Democratic debate, just once

Opponents within the party say the front-runner will cheat voters of ample time to compare them before the primary.

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 16, 2002

Florida Democrats will have one shot to see their candidates for governor face off against one another before the September primary.

Janet Reno agreed Monday to just one of three proposed television debates. That left her Democratic challengers grumbling that voters may be short-changed as they evaluate who would have the best shot against Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

Reno agreed to an Aug. 27 debate in West Palm Beach that will be available to NBC stations across Florida. She declined two debate invitations for the first week of September, including one by WFLA-Ch. 8 in Tampa that would have been moderated by NBC's Tim Russert.

"Janet's always believed the voters deserved to have a debate," said Moe Elleithee, Reno's campaign manager. "But she didn't get into this to debate other Democrats. She got into this to debate Jeb Bush."

As the front-runner going into the Sept. 10 Democratic primary, Reno has little to gain by attending multiple debates, where she could make mistakes or elevate the profile of the lesser-known challengers, Tampa lawyer Bill McBride and state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami.

Still, the first significant Democratic primary for governor since 1990 has featured few exchanges. Reno and McBride, the leading Democrats, focus on Bush and rarely mention each other. Only twice have they stood on stage together answering questions from the audience or panel members.

McBride, who needs exposure and has much more to gain from debates, called last month for at least three debates that would be televised statewide. On Monday, he criticized Reno for accepting only one invitation.

"None of those who wish to lead Florida should deny voters a chance to hear the candidates and compare their qualifications and vision for our state," he said. "Every candidate, including Janet Reno, should look forward to the opportunity to discuss issues as often as possible."

Neither Bush nor Democrat Buddy MacKay faced primary opposition in 1998. In a crowded Republican primary in 1994, the candidates debated frequently, including once on television. In 1990, the Democrats running for governor held no televised debates. But they did air some debates on radio.

The Reno campaign has yet to accept several invitations for non-televised debates planned for the coming weeks.

The Aug. 27 televised debate will be held at Palm Beach Community College in Palm Beach Gardens, and it is sponsored by WPTV-Ch. 5 and the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, a nonpartisan political group akin to Tiger Bay clubs. It will feature a local news anchor as the moderator and a panel of four people asking questions: reporters from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Palm Beach Post, WPTV, and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Harry Johnston of West Palm Beach.

Only Reno and McBride are invited to participate, but Jones may be invited if he rises in the polls to "near 10 percent," said Gayle Pallesen of the Forum Club.

Jones said that was a reasonable requirement and that he expected to be in the debate. He also said he understood why Reno's advisers wanted to limit her debate appearances.

"It will only cause her damage," Jones said. "She will not come out of a debate looking like the person best prepared to lead the state of Florida."

Maureen Scott, the election coordinator for WFLA-Ch. 8, said the Reno campaign had told her it preferred participating in a debate further removed from the primary and that it preferred a panel of questioners to just one.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright