What Roy Blunt Used To Think About Debates

Roy Blunt has been making a fair amount of noise in recent weeks about his desire to schedule debates with Robin Carnahan instead of his actual primary opponent, Chuck Purgason. It's an understandable strategy; Lord knows Blunt can't afford an honest discussion of what he's been doing in Washington for the past ten years.

Blunt's alleged willingness to engage in an open discussion is more than a little hypocritical, of course, because he's unwilling to "take the heat" from his primary opponent -- and because he has a documented record of avoiding public debates in previous campaigns.

In September 2004, the News-Leader called Blunt to task for refusing to debate his general election opponent. Keep in mind that this editorial was printed 58 days before the 2004 election (we still have 413 days to go until the 2010 elections).

Springfield News-Leader (Springfield, MO)
September 5, 2004 Sunday
Our View: Roy Blunt's foot-dragging on debate ill serves voters of district
SECTION: MAIN; Our View; Pg. 8A

Come on, Roy, commit to a debate.

Drury University has offered two invitations to Rep. Roy Blunt and his Democratic challenger, attorney Jim Newberry.

Robin Miller, the university's director of convocations, says she hasn't received an answer to either invitation. She learned through news reports that Blunt was turning down the first date offered. So she sent another letter offering six more dates, all Fridays and Saturdays in September and early October.

These are not days Congress is usually in session. They are days Blunt has used to campaign for GOP candidates in other states.
Campaign spokesman Miles Ross says Blunt's "first priority is serving the people of the 7th District. That takes precedence over anything political."

We understand Blunt's reluctance to debate. He has nothing to gain. The potential benefits are to his opponent -- and to voters who are better served by seeing candidates side by side.

This shouldn't frighten Blunt. He is the odds-on favorite in this race. He has plenty of support throughout this district.

But if his first priority is serving the people of the 7th District, he will bypass one trip to help a candidate elsewhere and commit to a debate in front of his constituents.

After the election, the News-Leader reported that Blunt "gracefully dodged" all of Newberry's requests for a town-hall debate and Drury's invitations.