Hillary accepts MT newspaper's longstanding Lincoln-Douglas debate invite

[BeyondGeography]

HELENA - Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday accepted a weekly newspaper publisher's invitation to participate in a Lincoln-Douglas debate in Missoula, while her Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama's campaign said it was evaluating the offer.

Lincoln-Douglas debates don't have moderators and are considered to be more freewheeling. Each candidate gets an allotment of time, followed by the other candidate and then the first person goes again.

"Montanans deserve a chance to hear where Senator Obama and I stand on important issues that matter to them before they cast their votes in June," said Clinton, a senator from New York. "A Lincoln-Douglas debate in Missoula would give them the opportunity to see up close our positions on health care, the economy, education, alternative energy and the other crucial issues affecting their communities."

...Obama's Montana spokesman Matt Chandler said Obama has participated in 21 debates, including four nationally televised one-on-one debates with Clinton. "We're still evaluating the debate offer and are considering it in the context of our number one priority, which is making sure the senator is able to have a direct conversation with Montanans on issues important to them."

He said the Obama campaign had made a deep commitment to Montana, opening six field offices statewide and signing up thousands of supporters to vote for Obama

"We're taking Montana very seriously," Chandler said...

...The idea came from John Q. Murray, publisher of the Clark Fork Chronicle, who in a Feb. 27 column called for a Lincoln-Douglas debate in Montana in mid-May. His newspaper, circulation 3,000, covers western Missoula County and Mineral County.


http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/04/29/news/state/35-lincolndouglas.txt

Sounds like a policy-oriented debate that would show there isn't much separating the two candidates on...policy. I wouldn't be surprised to see Oregon get in the game as well.

In other words, I think the debates aren't over yet.

[babylonsister]

1. Montana? Are those goal posts getting moved again? nt

[BeyondGeography]

2. Oh yeah

[MercutioATC]

3. Watch how many here claim that she "won" the debate in MT...

...when she shows up alone.

[Texas Hill Country]

4. nice! good for her.

[Adelante]

5. He said the other day that after Indiana/NC he might accept another debate

I would actually like to see them do a Lincoln-Douglas style debate. He'll whip her silly.