Steve Pearce, left, and Harry Teague (Photos by Heath Haussamen)
Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Steve Pearce has an answer to his debate challenge: Democrat Harry Teague won’t agree to 10 – or 18 – town-hall style debates across the district, but he will agree to two TV debates and is proposing his own series of radio debates on specific issues.
Teague released a letter to Pearce on Friday indicating that he has agreed to debate Pearce on Oct. 24 in Albuquerque and Oct. 27 in Las Cruces. Both would be televised debates, and Teague said he hoped Pearce would join him at them “because these debates give Southern New Mexicans the opportunity to learn more about the differences between us on the issues and about the very different approaches we have taken to representing this district.”
Teague also proposed debates on local radio stations “to reach both the bigger towns and smaller rural communities in this district.” He proposed at least three – to be held Sept. 20 in Las Cruces, Sept. 27 in Alamogordo and Oct. 4 in Artesia. The Las Cruces debate would focus on border security. The Alamogordo debate would focus on veterans. The Artesia debate would focus on congressional reform.
Teague’s letter made no mention of Pearce’s challenge to debate him at least 10 times in counties across the district in town-hall style meetings – and in front of voters. Pearce seized on the fact that Teague instead wants issue-specific radio debates.
“This is typical Harry Teague – afraid to speak to voters in an open forum. He proposes debates on narrow subjects so his staff can write answers,” Pearce Campaign Manager Jason Heffley said. “We accept his offer but we refuse to restrict the questions to only pre-approved topics written by Teague’s staff.”
“…We agree to debate on the three dates Teague selected. However, we insist on two-hour formats and a wide range of topics,” Heffley said. He also suggested that the Oct. 4 debate should be held in Santa Fe and the state oil and gas association’s meeting instead of in Artesia.
Heffley also complained about Teague agreeing to TV debates that will be held just before Election Day and after many have already voted early and absentee.
“Pearce and Teague should debate next week,” he said. “Pearce has proposed debates to be held after Teague’s meetings in Carlsbad, Las Cruces and Los Lunas. They will both be there and it will not interfere with his congressional schedule.”
Gabello responded by saying that Teague “has initially agreed to five debates – two televised debates that will cover a wide range of issues, and a first round of three radio debates which will be in-depth discussions on some of the most important issues to New Mexicans.”
“Why won’t Congressman Pearce agree to debate these issues?” he asked. “Does he think that veterans, border security and congressional reform aren’t important enough to merit their own in-depth debate, or is Congressman Pearce just trying to duck any and all in-depth discussions of his record?”
“Harry will debate Congressman Pearce, but he has no plans to abandon his job or his constituents, Gabello said. “Congressman Pearce has the luxury of campaigning full time, but the concerns of the people of the 2nd District and the responsibilities of being their representative don’t go away because there is an election. Harry is going to stay focused on his job and on working hard to help the people of Southern New Mexico.”