Menendez Ducking Debates
Kyrillos calls on U.S. Senator to defend his 20 year record in Washington
Is Bob Menendez planning to dance back into office without defending his record and debating his opponent?
That seems to be his strategy so far. Menendez refused to accept a written challenge to debate from GOP nominee Joe Kyrillos last month. This morning, the Kyrillos campaign announced that Menendez is also ignoring media and academic invitations to debate. Menendez has not responded to then following invitations according to the Kyrillos release:
1. League of Women Voters/WPVI-TV, WABC-TV, and Univision
2. The Record/FIOS 1 News
3. Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University and WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show/WNYC Radio and NJPR AM Radio
4. William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey/ NJTV
5. Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey/Jewish Standard News
6. The Uribe Society/Hudson County TV
“One of us will be the next United States Senator from New Jersey,” said Senator Joe Kyrillos. “New Jerseyans need to know our position on the issues before, not after the election. I’m ready to talk about my record of saving New Jersey taxpayers $11.9 billion in new taxes and bringing bipartisan reform to Trenton. I’m proud of my record and it’s time for Senator Menendez to stop running from and defend his.”
MMM left a voice mail for Menendez 2012 Communications Director Paul Brubaker asking if Menendez would be accepting any of these invitations. Brubaker has yet to respond. Nor has he called back, as promised, for comment on the polls that were released last week.
More from my site
Quinnipiac: In New Jersey, Obama leads Romney by 7%, Mendendez leads Kyrillos by 10%
Menendez Ponies Up $58,500 For Two Flights To The Dominican Republic
New Kyrillos Ad Hits The Airwaves 
NJ Media considers Menendez sex scandal story “thin”
Menendez chokes back sobs in Union City
Bob Menendez –“Crying”
Menendez puts personal and political interests before national interests
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Kyrillos for Senate
Tea Parties Considering A Third Party U.S. Senate Candidate
Menendez Song Parody Contest Gets Its Own Page
I believe there should always be at least one debate but realistically if one side (especially the incumbent) is way ahead, you are not always going to get debates. For example don’t hold your breath waiting for Chris Smith to debate his challanger Brian Forelich.
Its up to the voters if they are going to hold anything against whichever candidate is refusing to debate.
woops mispelled that its Froelich
No reason to give Kyrillos any type of name recognition. He’s doing what any incumbent with a lead would do.
So the same should go for the Freeholders. Why should they debate if they are ahead?
The Freeholders should not debate because they would have to explain why they reversed strong pay-to-play regulations and failed to appoint Brookdale Board of Trustees members that would provide the kind of oversight that would have avoided the legal and ethical problems initially brought to light by Amy Mallet over the past couple of years.
one more time, there is still the Fair and Open RFP Process, in the county,with compliance with all state Pay to Play laws ..and, where have you been,( Amy?)- every BCC Board seat up for re-appointment is being filled with a new member- there are two today, and they are accepting resumes and interviewing for the next group..the new President is in place, the classes are filling, and it’s still the best educational bang for the buck in NJ!..so, enough, it’s gotten real old and tired, besides being factually incorrect..