Gov: Thumbs down on Lincoln/Douglas style debates
According to the Governor yesterday, he's turning down the debates against Billion... And those other two guys. From the Rapid City Journal:
When the person you're trying to beat can't name who you are, it sounds like a name ID problem. Ouch.
Speaking to reporters after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at his campaign office at 1331 West Main St., Rounds said it was too late in the campaign to begin scheduling a series of weekly debates between him and Billion, as suggested in a Sunday Journal editorial. Rounds said he is already committed to seven or eight "debates or forums," sponsored or hosted mainly by television stations and public-interest groups.Read it all here.
Balancing his duties as governor against his responsibilities in the campaign wouldn't leave time for other scheduled appearances with Billion, he said. The governor also said it would be wrong to limit the debates to only the major party candidates, as the Journal editorial suggested.
Tom Gerber, 81, of Sturgis, is running for governor as a Libertarian and Steven Willis, 51, of Sioux Falls, is running as a candidate for the Constitution Party.
Although Rounds couldn't name either candidate Tuesday, he said each plays an important role in the campaign and should not be excluded from public debates. Because the two candidates have low name recognition and are considered unlikely to win more than a few percentage points of the vote shouldn't matter, Rounds said.
"When I started as a candidate two years ago, my name recognition was less than 5 percent," he said.
When the person you're trying to beat can't name who you are, it sounds like a name ID problem. Ouch.
Comments
I'm disappointed.
First question.
"Governor, name 3 things you've accomplished."
Rounds -
"ahhhhhhhh.....I've given most of my family jobs. Does that count?"
Rounds has lots of accomplishments he should be talking about. Give the guy some credit.
I also think it's funny to say the Mike couldn't name three accomplishments. What about creating over 10k new jobs? Or starting the SD certified beef program? Or the health insurance risk pool? Or the research centers at the universities? What about helping to save Ellsworth? What about the midlevel lab at Homestake? I guess you must mean, he doesn't have any accomplishments other than that.
Some of you people really amaze me. You're like ostriches - you keep your heads in the sand so you can decry Gov. Rounds simply because you are a Democrat and feel obligated. It's a shame that partisan politics are so important to you - otherwise you could at least recognize the successes Mike has had.
1. check the number of Rounds that worked for the state before Mike Rounds was Governor and the number after, I think they are the same or maybe less.
2. When you have 40 relatives that live in Pierre, you are bound to have a few work for the state.
Ditto for the SD Certified Beef Program. Beyond a name, Rounds better explain any tangible results the program has generated. Nobody's surprised if he created new programs.
The risk pool: that's something for a few hundred people anyway.
Saving Ellsworth: Let's not overstate the governor's role. That is a federal issue and our congressional delegation really delivered. Rounds didn't get in the way, but he didn't make it happen either.
The midlevel lab at Homestake: What lab? Maybe in the future, but SD was sitting on that goldmine regardless of who was governor.
Research Centers at Universities: SD is last in the nation in this regard. (Ditto on teacher pay). Congrats Rounds!
What is his schedule really filled with being Governor? Remember him flying around the state for basketball games at state expense. Give me a break!
What ten thousand new jobs? Name the jobs Rounds is responsible for.
Ask most rancher about the Governor's certified beef program. It is a joke. Gabriel does not have the support of the ranchers. These guys have accomplished nothing but writing weekly dribble for the small town newspapers.
Yes, he has spent an enormous amount of money prospectively for a new university one hour away from two of the state's largest universities. Taking money away from one hundred year institutions. At least Janklow understood we already had too many universities.
Ellsworth. Give me a f***ing break!
Homestake. Counting someone else's chickens before they've hatched.
I am a republican and am disgusted with the utter lack of leadership and ability of the GOP in Pierre, but I'm not ready to vote for Billion, yet. The only thing I know is I am not voting for Rounds.