Radio debate for governor offers an earful

If the first debate between Jeb Bush and Bill McBride was a snoozefest, today's could be more fun. No intrusive TV cameras. Unscripted questions. And a theme park setting.

The Republican governor and his Democratic challenger meet at 11 a.m. in Orlando for the second of three hourlong gubernatorial debates. It will be broadcast live on about 30 radio stations across the state, including WUSF-FM 89.7 and WTAN-AM 1340.

Unlike the last Bush-McBride debate, which did not allow the candidates to challenge each other's answers, this one provides for rebuttal.

In televised debates, appearances count for a lot, and how candidates look on camera can be as important as what they say. A radio debate, however, offers no such distractions and takes away the pressure of being on camera.

That might help McBride, who did not appear as comfortable as Bush in their televised debate last month.

The Bush campaign thinks that a radio format favors the governor because the emphasis will be on substance and detail. Bush strategists also think that the expectations for a good performance by McBride will be much higher this time.

Jim Polling -- director of operations for Florida's Radio Networks, which is sponsoring the debate -- said 1-million people are expected to tune in.

The network chose 11 a.m. because it falls between regional call-in shows and Rush Limbaugh, whose show begins at noon.

"We don't hold a radio debate at night because no one listens to the radio at night. People sit down in front of the television at night," Poling said.

Plus, many AM stations reduce power at night, he said.

During the first half of the debate, the candidates will take unscripted questions from six audience members, and they get a minute to rebut each question.

In the second half, they'll take questions from moderator Larry Spilman of Florida's Radio Networks and two reporters chosen by the campaigns. Bush chose John Lucas of the Florida News Network, and McBride picked John Kennedy, Tallahassee bureau chief of the Orlando Sentinel.

The debate is the fourth to be sponsored by Florida's Radio Networks. If history is a guide, it should be spirited.

In 1998, Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay shook off a lackluster TV performance a couple weeks before and delivered a feisty performance, as did Bush.

Eight years ago, former Gov. Lawton Chiles and Bush tossed out the rule book and spent the last 10 minutes savaging each other, although Chiles was criticized for attacking Bush instead of his ideas.

In the first Bush-McBride debate, McBride sought to stay focused on education, the centerpiece of his campaign, while Bush criticized him for being vague on other issues.

McBride spent most of Monday preparing for the debate. Bush, who campaigned in Miami and Tampa on Monday, has not taken time off to prepare, campaign spokesman Todd Harris said.

The third and final gubernatorial debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Tuesday. Tim Russert, host of NBC's Meet the Press, will be the moderator. It will be broadcast live on NBC affiliates, including WFLA-Ch. 8.

The debate

Republican Gov. Jeb Bush and Democratic challenger Bill McBride face off in an hourlong radio debate from 11 a.m. to noon today on WUSF-FM 89.7 in Tampa, WTAN-AM 1340 in Clearwater, WWJB-AM 1450 in Brooksville, WDCF-AM 1350 in Dade City, WLSS-AM 930 in Sarasota and WZHR-AM 1400 in Zephyrhills.

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