Two Candidates May Boycott Calif. Debate
43 minutes ago
source: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030919/ap_on_el_gu/davis_recall_boycott_2
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and state Sen. Tom McClintock are threatening to boycott the only debate Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to attend in the recall case unless organizers switch to an unscripted format.
Bustamante, the only prominent Democrat in the race, and conservative McClintock said they supported sending a letter to the California Broadcasters Association opposing a scripted format for Wednesday's debate.
"I wouldn't do a pose-down with him and he obviously doesn't want to debate me," McClintock told KFI-AM, referring to Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding days.
Schwarzenegger said he planned to attend the debate and the organizers said they wouldn't change the format.
The unusual alliance by Schwarzenegger's fellow front-runners undercut any sign of GOP unity less than a week after the party's convention and illustrated claims by McClintock — gaining on the action-hero in the latest polls — that he's in the race until the finish.
The two-front attack came as Bustamante and McClintock tried to dodge criticism for taking American Indian casino money — something Schwarzenegger has vowed to reject so he isn't beholden to special interests.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians was set to begin airing McClintock TV ads Friday. Schwarzenegger complained that the ads would divide Republicans.
"They want to interfere with the process so Bustamante wins," Schwarzenegger said. "So he has to decide which side he's on, Republicans or Bustamante."
43 minutes ago
source: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030919/ap_on_el_gu/davis_recall_boycott_2
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and state Sen. Tom McClintock are threatening to boycott the only debate Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to attend in the recall case unless organizers switch to an unscripted format.
Bustamante, the only prominent Democrat in the race, and conservative McClintock said they supported sending a letter to the California Broadcasters Association opposing a scripted format for Wednesday's debate.
"I wouldn't do a pose-down with him and he obviously doesn't want to debate me," McClintock told KFI-AM, referring to Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding days.
Schwarzenegger said he planned to attend the debate and the organizers said they wouldn't change the format.
The unusual alliance by Schwarzenegger's fellow front-runners undercut any sign of GOP unity less than a week after the party's convention and illustrated claims by McClintock — gaining on the action-hero in the latest polls — that he's in the race until the finish.
The two-front attack came as Bustamante and McClintock tried to dodge criticism for taking American Indian casino money — something Schwarzenegger has vowed to reject so he isn't beholden to special interests.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians was set to begin airing McClintock TV ads Friday. Schwarzenegger complained that the ads would divide Republicans.
"They want to interfere with the process so Bustamante wins," Schwarzenegger said. "So he has to decide which side he's on, Republicans or Bustamante."