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A Times Editorial
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 17, 2002
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno has grudgingly agreed to participate in one -- and only one -- debate prior to the Sept. 10 party primary. One debate is better than nothing, but it won't offer Democratic voters, along with curious independents and Republicans, the full opportunity they deserve to judge which candidate is best qualified to challenge Gov. Jeb Bush in November.
If Reno were really confident that she's the Democratic candidate best prepared to go toe-to-toe with Bush, she wouldn't be so reluctant to let voters compare her side-by-side with her Democratic opponents.
Tampa lawyer Bill McBride, the other leading Democrat in the gubernatorial race, has called for at least three televised debates. He has obvious reasons for wanting as many debates as possible. He is running ahead of Reno in organization, campaign finances and command of the issues, but he can't match her name recognition. Debates would give him needed exposure.
However, multiple debates also would serve voters' interests. Debates aren't a perfect vehicle for informing voters about candidates and issues, but they usually are more substantial than paid advertisements, targeted mailings and stump speeches. They present candidates with the opportunity -- and the risk -- of going beyond their usual sound bites and canned remarks. They allow for more detailed examinations of the candidates' views on important issues such as education, health care and public safety. They also give voters a first-hand look at the candidates' intellects, personalities and idiosyncrasies.
Front-runners often avoid committing to too many debates, but they usually have well-known public records on which they can be judged. Reno's circumstances are different. Her record as U.S. attorney general has little relevance to the issues for which Florida's governor is responsible. The same is true of her tenure as Dade County state attorney. Reno has no Tallahassee experience -- and has offered very little in the way of detailed policy statements since she began her gubernatorial campaign.
Extended give-and-take with McBride (and with state Sen. Daryl Jones, if he meets the threshold for inclusion in the debates) would give Reno her best opportunity to make her case to voters in the September primary. Multiple primary debates also would be important preparation for whichever Democrat wins the opportunity to take on Bush, who has become an old hand at candidate debates over the past eight years. If she looks beyond her short-term political calculations, Reno should agree that multiple debates would be good for her, good for the Democratic Party and good for all Florida voters.