Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Arizona Republic columnist on McCain refusing to debate: "This time, JD Hayworth is right"

Good article from Republic columnist Laurie Roberts. Some excerpts -

It seems like every day or two, I get another press release from the J.D. Hayworth machine, complaining that John McCain won’t debate him. 

Today’s includes an ambush video of McCain walking through the halls of Congress, trying to avoid a camera-toting J.D. guy who wants to know why McCain won’t go face-to-face with Hayworth.  You can view it here.


McCain hasn't yet committed to any debates and for good reason. If you’re McCain, there is absolutely no upside to debating Hayworth. A sitting senator already has the floor, so to speak.  Why share it with the guy who wants to knock you off? Especially a guy who has the gift of gab, a guy who sounds, well, a lot like you do these days on that mother of all issues: illegal immigration.

A McCain spokesman in February said that McCain will debate “all certified candidates”.  Hayworth last week submitted double the number of signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. Rogers contends that  neither candidate will be certified for the ballot until June 10, when the challenge period for petition signatures is over.  However, Matt Benson, a spokesman for the secretary of state's office, says that Hayworth and Republican Jim Deakin are considered official candidates now, having filed their signatures last week.
"We consider them official candidates once they turn in their petitions," Benson said. "If they've got more than the minimum (number of signatures), it's considered that you're an official candidate, pending a legal challenge."
M aybe I'm going out on a limb here but I'm guessing that both McCain and Hayworth will be on the August ballot. 

I don’t often agree with Hayworth, but this time he’s right.  If McCain wants the job, he should fight for it and fighting for it ought to include a chance for voters to see the two of them go at it. As often as possible, in as many parts of the state as possible.

It is, after all, our job to fill.
  

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