August 31, 2009 - 11:56am

Inside Edge

Corzine' M.O.: Seek fewer debates, then do them anyway

By Wally Edge

This is Jon Corzine's fourth (and perhaps last) contested race for statewide office, and it's the fourth time his campaign has been accused of ducking debates. Corzine seems to initially balk at debates, and then ultimately give in and participate. That lends some credibility to the theory that the governor would wind up taking part in NJN's October 1 debate if the Election Law Enforcement Commission declines to move the debate to October 22.

During his bid for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in 2000, former Gov. Jim Florio accepted eight debate invitations and his campaign asked Corzine to participate in all eight. Corzine initially said he would only debate Florio twice, but after debates became a process story, Corzine wound up debating Florio four times in eight days.

In the general election, Republican Robert Franks called on Corzine to debate him 21 times - once in each county. Again, Corzine sought just two debates, but under some pressure wound up agreeing to three, including two on network television.

During the 2005 gubernatorial campaign, Republican Douglas Forrester sought to make debate ducking an issue after Corzine initially said he would debate three times. Forrester got Corzine up to four, and then the two met in a fifth debate that was put together quickly after WNBC's Gabe Pressman invited the two to debate on the Sunday before the election.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.

Related topics: RObert Franks, JON CORZINE, James Florio, gabe pressman, Douglas Forrester

If you liked this article, subscribe to The Wake-Up Call. It's FREE!

Email this Article

Contributors

Wally Edge

Emergency room doctor looking at Senate bid in 7th district

South Jersey Democrats are touting Cinnaminson native Anthony Mazzarelli, the head of the emergency medicine department at Cooper University ... >

Bob Torricelli

Torricelli on Chris Christie and New Jersey's future

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >

Michael Patrick Carroll

Taking Corzineism National

Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >

Jeff Michaels

Obama blind spot?

The NJ gubernatorial election result demonstrates that Governor-elect Chris Christie resurrected the center-right voter coalition of Republicans, ... >

Richard LaRossa

Congratulations Governor Elect Christopher J. Christie

With a convincing win in defeating an encumbent Governor, why were there no coattails? >

Alan Steinberg

1992-1993: How Divided Government Worked in New Jersey

As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >

Dr. Joseph Marbach

Lessons from the campaign

Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >

Carla Katz

Christie and Labor: 5 Things the Governor-Elect Can Do

When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >

Joey Novick

We Need Sanctity of Marriage Boards

There has been a lot of talk about putting the issue of marriage equality on the ballot in New Jersey. This is something that Assemblywoman ... >

Murray Sabrin

Will Chris Christie punt or do the right thing?

New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >