Newt’s debate pledge

Posted on July 31, 2007

Newt Gingrich, who I suspect is still hoping to be the one taking it, has proposed pledge for all the presidential candidates. He is understandably unhappy with the current situation where sound bites and managed debates rule and real face to face debate is missing. He has proposed the following, and has at least one taker:

“If I receive my party’s nomination for President of the United States, I pledge to participate in nine, 90-minute dialogues in the nine weeks before the general election with my opponent. In the Lincoln-Douglas style, I will agree to debate my opponent with only a time-keeper and to insist upon no rules. I understand it will be just me and my solutions and my opponent with theirs.”

He asked Rudy - face to face - and Rudy said yes, he will take that pledge. Will be interesting to watch the GOP presidential and vice presidential candidates debating empty chairs when Hillary and Obama refuse to participate. (I actually think it will be Kucinich and Dean - they are the real stellar candidates for the Dems).

» Filed Under Presidential Primary, Legislators, Fred Thompson, New Hampshire, National Politics, NH Politics