The Command Post
2004 US Presidential Election
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September 08, 2004
| Report: Bush Plans To Skip One Debate [Updated]

Leading on Drudge right now:

President Bush may skip one of the three debates that have been proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates… MORE… Bush’s negotiating team plans to resist the middle debate, which was to be Oct. 8 in a town meeting format in Missouri // audience of ‘undecided voters’ for second debate was to be picked by Gallup. Bush officials were concerned that people could pose as undecided when they actually are partisans, WASH POST planning to report in new editions, newsroom sources tell DRUDGE

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Update:

MSNBC has the story.



Posted by Michele at September 8, 2004 10:07 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Makes sense - I don’t think the “town meeting” format plays to GWB’s strengths as far as being flexible on his feet.

Posted by: tagryn [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 8, 2004 10:40 PM

If I were a betting man, I’d wager a little on Bush getting just two debates with Kerry while holding out for only one if he can get by with it.

With such a partisan atmosphere in the country and so many voters already having their minds apparently made up, the debates will not do much to help either candidate unless one or the other really messes up. It is therefore more of a risk to the candidate leading at the time of the debates.

If Bush continues to hold onto a 5 point or so lead, then there will be only two debates with the second one to be held too late to cause any significant movement is my prediction. Kerry’s folks will of course be pushing through the media for more debates and virtually screaming through their talking points about “what is Bush afraid of?” at every opportunity.

Sort of reminds me of tactic the Japanese would use by taunting the GIs in WWII to try and convince them to leave the safety of their foxholes at night and venture out to attack the obnoxious Japanese, who as more experienced night fighters, would of course be waiting in ambush to kill any American soldier or Marine so foolish to do so.

Posted by: steve [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 8, 2004 11:11 PM

Ooops… I meant that in the first paragraph of my last post that “Bush” would try to hold out for only one and not Kerry… must be getting late!

Posted by: steve [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 8, 2004 11:12 PM

Shoot, I was really looking forward to the debates. Bush was such a great debater in the double 0 campaign, and everyone grossly underestimates his talents in front of large crowds. I was totally unimpressed with Kerry’s debating prowess during the primaries, but according to the press Kerry does his best work when he’s on the ropes. It would’ve made for good comedy no doubt.

Posted by: computer_operator [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 9, 2004 11:41 AM

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