Inclusion in debate shines light on Jones' campaign

TALLAHASSEE -- Mired in the shadow of his better-known and better-organized rivals, Daryl Jones has been the odd man out in the field of Democrats running for governor. But a decision allowing Jones to participate in a statewide televised debate could alter the dynamics of the race.

No longer will voters see Tampa lawyer Bill McBride as the only alternative to former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

"It shows me there are a lot of right-thinking people in this state, and I appreciate it," Jones said Tuesday.

Partly at the urging of Reno and McBride, a civic group decided Monday to make room for Jones in the Aug. 27 debate in Palm Beach County. It's the only statewide encounter of the primary campaign and Jones' one chance to reach voters across the state.

The Forum Club's initial decision to exclude Jones, based on his inability to reach 10 percent in opinion polls, further frustrated Jones' effort to mount a serious campaign. He has struggled to raise money and was the choice of 4 percent of voters in the most recent poll for newspapers in late June.

The switch came as Jones was urging supporters to flood the club, and a sponsoring TV station, with complaints. Club director Gayle Pallesen said she received a "couple of dozen" calls, and WPTV-Ch. 5 producer Tom Kastanotis said he was aware of only one call to his station.

The one-hour debate will be at 7 p.m. at the Eissey Auditorium on the campus of Palm Beach Community College and will be sent to NBC affiliates statewide.

The fact that Jones is the first black candidate for governor in modern times made the initial snub especially troublesome to some supporters.

Democrats feared that excluding Jones, despite his poll numbers, could mean more internal strife for a party facing a steep climb against Gov. Jeb Bush.

Polls show Reno has strong support among blacks. Could a strong performance by Jones eat into Reno's African-American base of support?

"She is widely supported by African-American voters because of her record," said Reno's spokeswoman, Nicole Harburger, citing civil rights and child support enforcement.

McBride thinks an "inclusive" approach to debates is best, campaign spokesman Alan Stonecipher said.

Jones has longed to let voters size him up alongside his rivals. He was campaigning Monday evening at a Jacksonville church, and complaining about being left out, before he learned the news. "I should be included in this debate," he told 35 people at Epiphany Baptist Church. "I've paid my dues. I've put my life on the line to defend this country."

Jones, 47, is a former Air Force fighter pilot who was nominated by President Clinton to be Air Force secretary. His confirmation failed on a 9-9 Senate committee vote in 1998. He has served in the Legislature since 1990, including the past 10 years as a senator from south Miami-Dade County.

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