Dole, Perdue content to avoid debates

RALEIGH -- With North Carolina's top races tightening, Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beverly Perdue have become gun shy about televised debates in their respective contests.

The lack of face-to-face debates is particularly noticeable in the Senate race, where Dole has declined to commit to five televised debates. In the governor's race, Perdue has declined to participate in two statewide televised debates hosted by UNC-TV, including one tonight that will have Republican Pat McCrory debating Libertarian candidate Mike Munger.

So as the election enters its final month, many North Carolinians apparently will have little or no opportunity to see the candidates answer questions side-by-side. Instead, they will see the candidates primarily in negative television ads or campaign fliers.

That bothers Rebecca Tatman Klase, vice president of the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad, who tried to organize a U.S. Senate debate that was to be co-sponsored by the The (Greensboro) News & Record and Carolina News 14.

"Most of the campaigns are being conducted through television commercials," said Klase, a political science professor at Greensboro College. "Many are not by the candidates, but by outside groups or political parties. It's important we hear the views of the candidates directly from the candidates who we are electing to office."

Candidates in competitive races are often reluctant to debate because they have less control than they do over their advertisements or stump speeches.

"When you have two very close races, candidates tend to get risk-averse," said Andy Taylor, a political science professor at N.C. State University. "They are aware that anything can make a difference."

The only televised debate in the U.S. Senate race was on June 21 at the N.C. State Bar Association convention in Atlantic Beach. The debate was aired by UNC-TV and by Carolina News 14. Since then, several televised debates have been proposed by the likes of UNC-TV, the N.C. Association of Broadcasters and various local TV stations.

Officials with Hagan's campaign said they agreed to those debates. But event organizers said Dole never committed as scheduling deadlines passed.

Hagan has not made a major issue of Dole's reluctance to debate. When asked about it last week, Hagan said, "I'm definitely ready and willing."

Dole could not be reached for comment.

Dan McLagan, a spokesman for Dole, denied that the campaign has been dodging debates.

"It's not so," McLagan said. "We have been debating. We are open to further debates. No one has gotten back to us that Hagan has agreed to a specific debate."

But debate organizers say the Dole campaign has quashed debates at every turn:

* Hagan agreed to a debate on WRAL on Oct. 14, but Dole would not commit, according to a WRAL spokeswoman.

* Hagan agreed to an Oct. 1 debate on UNC-TV, but Dole would not commit, according to UNC-TV. Hagan agreed to a League of Women Voters debate on either Sept. 18 or Sept. 28, but Dole did not agree, according to the league.

* Hagan agreed to a debate sponsored by the N.C. Association of Broadcasters in July, but Dole did not agree, according to the group.

* Hagan agreed to a debate on NBC-17 in Raleigh during the first week of October, but Dole did not agree, according to the station.

* Dole agreed to a televised debate in Wilmington on Oct. 24 that is being organized by Curtis Wright, a conservative talk show host. Hagan declined that debate, saying it was only to be televised in the Wilmington area.

In the governor's race, North Carolina voters have had more of a chance to see the candidates, who have debated on TV four times. McCrory and Perdue have agreed to a fifth debate on Oct. 15 in Charlotte.

But Perdue has declined to participate in two debates proposed by UNC-TV. Perdue also declined debates sponsored by the N.C. Association of Broadcasters and a television station in Raleigh.

"She turned down the two hallmark debates," said Amy Auth, McCrory's spokeswoman.

Tim Crowley, Perdue's spokesman, said Perdue had planned to participate in five debates and spend the rest of the time meeting "real people."

But some people wish there were more chances for large number of voters to see the candidates.

"It's a shame we don't have more debates and forums because it forces citizens to rely more on 30-second attack ads to make up their minds," said Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. "I don't think that is healthy."