debate

A few Several thoughts on tonight's final gubernatorial debate, held here in Bloomington:

Format. Generally speaking, I'm a fan of the seated panel discussion. But tonight's debate theme, which seemed to have been chosen by the editors of a teen fan club magazine, was particularly ill-suited to this type of debate. The candidates took turns answering the same questions, never actually engaging in any discussion. And the focus on personal questions - such as "Who is your hero?" and "What was your greatest mistake or setback?" - provided little incentive for the candidates to clash.

Logistics. I really disliked the short 90 second time limit. It did not work well with the seated format, and it precluded most discussion of the issues. I was also very disturbed my moderator Tom Cochrun's partiality in enforcing the time limits. He routinely talked over Jill Long Thompson and never let her finish her sentence, while he nodded deferentially to Mitch Daniels and gently reminded him that his time was up. He also let Mitch Daniels complete his sentences when he went over the time limit. Cochrun also directed his only "follow up" to Jill Long Thompson, ignoring Andy Horning's wide-ranging digressions from the questions at hand.

I also wanted to mention camera angles. While Horning and Daniels were answering questions, the camera crane was extended low and in front of the stage - framing the candidates from below. In contrast, during Jill Long Thompson's answers, the camera seemed to be framing her from above, and at a greater distance. I know that some of this was doubtless due to the simple logistics - Jill was on the end farthest from the crane. However, the effect of framing one candidate smaller - and from above - while the other candidates were framed from below would seem to create an unrealistic image of the debate to viewers. I don't know how much ended up in the final broadcast, since I watched it from the Auditorium. But as a former film student and high school TV/radio person, it's something I notice.

Content. Despite the horrible theme of the debate - which may have negated some of her advantage on policy issues - I think Jill Long Thompson emerged as the clear winner. She was assertive, calm, and direct. She attacked Mitch Daniels' record from her first answer, and never once let up. While doing this, she clearly established herself as the economic expert on stage, and avoided any personal attacks. Mitch Daniels was clearly uncomfortable with the format, and Jill's attacks really got under his skin. He turned personal with his response - saying "I thought we'd see a kinder, gentler you, but I guess not." - which came across as very mean-spirited and patronizing. He never regained his composure. I don't know how it came across on TV, but his gestures became much more pronounced and exaggerated after that exchange, and he leaned way back while the other candidate were answering the remaining questions.

Jill scored points by publicly pointing out what has been whispered for weeks - that the Daniels administration invested Major Moves money in the stock market, and it has lost a lot of value. She tied this to "junk bonds, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac" - an attack that nicely dovetailed with her talk about the need to grow Indiana's economy and her experience in economic development. She also managed to tie Mitch to his former boss, George Bush, and said that as the architect of Bush's record deficits, Daniels bears some responsibility for the current economic turmoil.

I was a little troubled by Jill's closing statement, though - specifically, that her campaign seems to feel the need to continue with the basic biography and candidate narrative this late in the campaign. As a result, she packed too much in, and didn't have enough time to devote to her excellent One Indiana plan.

As Chaim pointed out in his liveblogging, Mitch claimed - twice - that Indiana was bankrupt when he took office. While Indiana was in the middle of some budgetary problems in 2003-04, the state was hardly bankrupt. Aside from being factually untrue, this line didn't really work for him, since Jill clearly came across as the candidate with the knowledge to tackle economic issues.

Micth just lied again saying that the state was bankrupt when he took over.

Property tax payers reimbursed for the sales tax increase. Unfortunately, renters don't pay property tax and get no reimbursement.

Role of the arts! Jill is the only one who sees the arts as an engine of economic development.

Jill just nailed Mitch, reminding people that he was budget director under "W" which set the stage for the economic disaster we're experiencing now. Mitch responded by lying through his teeth, but Jill wouldn't let him off the hook.

Andy is giving the tired old canard that no politician can be trusted.

Mitch talks about his faith which teaches humility. I think he must not have been listening.

The candidates have just walked in and we're waiting for the signal to start.

The debate will focus on the candidates' personal views and what makes them think the way they do. Horning says he's shaped by the Constitution.

Jill is on the attack right off the bat. She chose to stay on message.

OMG! What a question! On a scale of 1 - 10 how would you rate the legislative process and rate the legislature itself!

(H/T to Thomas at BlueIndiana)

I guess when you're trailing by double digits this late in the race, you'll do anything for attention:

Ninth District Republican Party Chairman Larry Shickles on Wednesday proposed the political polygraphs for Democratic Rep. Baron Hill, GOP challenger Mike Sodrel and Libertarian candidate Eric Schansberg. [...]

Shickles, in a letter sent Tuesday to 9th District Democratic Chairman Mike Jones, suggested that the candidates be hooked up to lie detecting machines at the Oct. 21 event or a separate debate.

"While this format may be unusual, I feel strongly that voters need to be able to make a clear decision without all the usual spin," Shickles wrote.

Sodrel's campaign said he would agree to the proposal, and Schansberg said he also would agree to wear a lie detector. Hill declined to comment. (Source: AP)

Unfortunately for Sodrel and the Party of Desperate Tactics (TM), the debate organizers aren't buying it.

The fact is, the voters here in the 9th District trust Baron Hill, and for good reason - he's spent his time in Congress listening to his constituents and taking their needs seriously. On the other hand, Mike Sodrel closed his Congressional offices after his electoral defeat, leaving his constituents in the cold. Even putting aside Sodrel's obvious inattention to the people of the 9th District, it's obvious that his extremist views and loyalty to the failed policies of the Bush administration are out of step with Hoosiers.

Now, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I have some serious policy disagreements with Baron Hill - but I really respect him and the work he's done for Hoosiers. He's earned our trust, and doesn't need to rely on cheap gimmicks.

The final gubernatorial debate will be held here in Bloomington, at the IU Auditorium, on Tuesday, October 14. It will be moderated by veteran Indiana journalist Tom Cochrun.

Tickets are available online, at the IU Auditorium Box Office, or by calling (812)333-9955.

Streaming video will be available at indianadebatecommission.com

Democracy for Monroe County presents...

The 2008 Vice Presidential Debate
Joseph Biden and Sarah Palin

Thursday, October 2
8:00pm - 10:30pm
The Cinemat -123 S Walnut St
(Corner of 4th and Walnut)

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All right, so we're not really hosting the debate. But we are hosting the best debate-watching party in Bloomington!

In the blue corner: Joe "Barack America" Biden.
And far, far, far, in the red corner: Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin.

You don't want to miss this debate - or the discussion. We'll meet at the Cinemat at 8:00 so we can hear from our guests and get caught up on all of the latest political announcements from Monroe County.

You can RSVP online (optional) at http://www.democracyforamerica.com/events/31281-debate-watch-party

If you want more information, just let me know - I'll find it and bring it to ya.

(H/T Masson)

Nels Ackerson will finally get a chance to debate Steve Buyer in a Farm Bureau-sponsored debate tonight:

Thursday, August 28
Hendricks County 4H Complex Auditorium
1900 E Main St
Danville, IN
Doors open at 6:00pm
Debate starts at 7:00pm

Apparently, Buyer is still ducking the other debate offers that Ackerson has accepted. And like Masson, I haven't heard anything about any media coverage of this event.

Full text of the press release after the jump:

According to a press release Jen Wagner posted on Hoosier Political Report:

The Indiana Debate Commission is inviting the public to post questions for gubernatorial candidates by filling out a simple online submission form.

All questions submitted to www.indianadebatecommission.com concerning state issues will be considered. Live questions will be asked of the three candidates from the pool of those who have contacted the commission with questions. The commission's non-partisan review committee will select participants.

Formats include the following:

• In Merrillville : A single moderator will read e-mails and mail-in questions submitted by the public.

• In Jasper: A town hall-style meeting will be conducted with voters asking questions directly of the candidates.
• In Bloomington: A single moderator will be interacting with candidates in a conversational style.

Submit your questions here: indianadebatecommission.com