Debate Over Gubernatorial Debates
Will Michigan voters get to see any gubernatorial debates before election day? Democratic candidate Virg Bernero says he's ready to debate, but that his opponent Rick Snyder has too many restrictions.
Bernero told reporters Monday that he'll accept any media debate offers, even if Snyder won't be there. He said the Ann Arbor businessman is trying to get the governor's job "without going through an interview.''
"We said we'd do debates from the beginning. We wanted eight debates. [Snyder] started��off limiting it to only three, and then he wanted to negotiate about it -- between us two campaigns," Bernero said.
"I'm saying let's make it simple - I'll answer any media debate. I'll debate on WWJ, on WXYZ, I'm available. We should make ourselves available. We owe that to the public," Bernero said.
Bernero said Snyder had too many restrictions on the debates he offered, including not allowing them to be streamed live on the Internet.
Snyder campaign spokesman Bill Nowling said they put a fair proposal on the table concerning the debates, but the Bernero team did not accept it.
"Three debates is completely customary, with what previous gubernatorial campaigns had done in Michigan, and we thought that that was the appropriate level," said Snyder campaign spokesman Bill Nowling.
WWJ Lansing Burea Chief Tim Skubick said, at this point, it would take a lot to get these two in a room together.
"Add all this up -- it looks like there will not be debates, unless the public pressure is so strong on these two guys to get this thing done. And most of that pressure would be on Mr. Snyder," Skubick said.
Snyder will continue to hold town hall meetings, including one Monday night in Westland.
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