Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Editorial: Mark your calendars
Voters should ignore attack ads and watch candidates debate the issues.
From the RoundTable blog
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It's October, and while congressional candidates haven't exactly filled up their dance cards, they've agreed to strut their stuff around the debate stage at least a couple of times apiece before Election Day.
While the number of debates isn't exhaustive, voters who wish to learn more about incumbents' and challengers' positions on the deficit, Medicare and other topics will have opportunities to do so in each of the 5th, 6th and 9th district races.
That's a welcome outcome, because contests for seats in the House of Representatives have received scant attention. News stories have been dominated by the presidential race and the match-up for an open U.S. Senate seat in the commonwealth. Similarly, the pestilence of political ads has focused on those larger contests, although that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Voters should ignore the attack ads and mark their calendars for at least one of the following dates.
In the 6th District, Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte and Democratic challenger Andrew Schmookler will debate three times: 1:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at James Breckinridge Middle School, Roanoke; 10:30 a.m. Oct. 15 at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater; and 7:30 p.m. Oct.16 at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
In the 5th District, Republican Rep. Robert Hurt and Democratic challenger John Douglass will debate twice: 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in Danville, to be broadcast on WSET (Channel 13); and Oct. 15 in Warrenton.
In the 9th District, Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith and Democratic challenger Anthony Flaccavento will debate twice: 7:30 p.m. Oct.18 at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, to be posted afterward at www.wcyb.com; and 7 p.m. Oct.22 at Tazewell Middle School, which can be viewed live at www.wvva.com/live.
Finally, in the Senate contest, Republican George Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine will stage their final debate at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Haymarket Theatre in the Virginia Tech Squires Student Center, to be broadcast on WSLS (Channel 10).
