Ann Wagner Calls Jotte Campaign's Debate Challenge "Shameful"
The GOP frontrunner in the race for Missouri's Second Congressional District says she's focused on debating voters in the waning days of the primary campaign. One of her opponents says he's been trying to arrange a debate since March.
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With two weeks left before the August 7 primary, candidates are scrambling to reach out to every possible vote, attending event after event and forum after forum.
But time is running out for candidates to appear at the same time and in the same place. In the 2nd congressional district Republican primary, the last such opportunity may have taken place Tuesday, when Ann Wagner and Dr. Randy Jotte spoke at a St. Louis County Republican Women’s forum.
While they talked health care, energy, and the economy, the most heated portion of the forum came as the candidates argued over campaign tactics in the closing days.
Jotte claims he’s been seeking a debate since March, through press releases and contacts between the campaigns. Recently, he took to YouTube and sent a certified letter.
“There will be bills where we have to say yes or no, Aye or Nay and those are substantive issues,” Jotte said after the forum. "Maybe it’s Iran, maybe it’s Medicare, maybe it's Medicaid. If and when ObamaCare is repealed we need to know, here’s a proposal to replace it; is it a yay or a nay?”
Wagner, the frontrunner in the race who debated Ed Martin several times before Martin moved on to run for Attorney General, and clearly has more to lose by sharing the stage with a primary opponent at this point in the campaign, called it “shameless” and a sign of a desperate campaign.
“For you to issue a YouTube challenge a few days ago for a debate, I find a political gimmick and a ploy that frankly is beneath the people in the second district,” she said during the event, also critical of the challenge’s timing on the heels of the death of her father.
Wagner plans to launch a new round of television advertising Wednesday, and says she’s focused on reaching out to voters and debating the issues with them over these final days, if not her opponents.
Jotte said he knew of no more joint events left on the campaign schedule before August 7 but pledged to be available for a debate if the opportunity presented itself, pointing out that a much more heated Congressional campaign between Representative Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan will see at least one debate next week prior to Primary day.
NotaNativetoWebster
10:40 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I attended this event and in my view Mrs. Wagner has cause to fear a debate, it is her race to lose and Dr. Jotte presented himself as far more informed on the critical issues facing our country today. I would love nothing more than to see a debate among the candidates seeking this office. Sadly, I don't think Mrs. Wagner will ever participate, it easier for her to coast along running ads with her huge campaign war chest than it is to face the voters and state "for the record" where she stands on the important issues facing the voters.
Doug Nissing
8:38 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I have a hard time imagining myself ever voting for someone who would characterize an invitation to debate the important issues of our country and our lives as "shameless." What is she so afraid of? Talk about a desperate campaign. Randy Jotte is intelligent and thoughtful, and to the best of my knowledge not beholden to out-of-state party interests. Hang in there Dr. Jotte!
Scott Simon
4:28 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Ann, lighten up. You've been a terrific diplomat for the area but Dr. Jotte is an outstanding diplomat too. Ann, quit thinking like a politician. That's the response that paid campaign political hacks create. It's not the type of response average residents want to see.
Bill McKenzie
12:14 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Amen!