Suggests debates in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, and Dubuque; broadcast on TV and radio
WATERLOO, IA -- The campaign of Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today challenged politician Ben Lange to a series of three debates before the November 6th election, broadcast by Iowa television and radio outlets.
In a written request sent to Lange's campaign, Molly Scherrman, Senior Advisor to Braley for Congress, proposed that the debates be held in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, and Dubuque - the three population centers of the new First District.
Furthermore, Braley for Congress proposed that debates begin early enough in the fall to ensure that the large number of Iowa voters expected to vote early, by mail or in-person, have a chance to hear directly from the candidats.
"Rep. Braley and Mr. Lange may disagree about many things, but I'm sure they agree that the people of Iowa deserve a chance to know where candidates for public office stand on the issues affecting their lives and our country," Scherrman wrote. "A series of debates broadcast on TV and radio that offers Iowans the chance to ask the candidates unscreened questions and hear honest, unrehearsed answers is the best way to educate voters about the choice they have this fall."
Braley's campaign proposed the following debate schedule:
- A televised debate in Cedar Rapids, the largest city in the new First District, broadcast by KCRG-TV on Friday, September 28th.
- A debate in Cedar Falls, broadcast by Iowa Public Radio on Wednesday October 10th.
- A televised debate in Dubuque, hosted by Iowa Public Television, on Thursday November 1st.
Braley's campaign also proposed that the debates feature as many Iowa voters asking questions as possible. Candidates should be denied access to questions before the debate, to ensure candid responses to questions.
A copy of the letter sent by Scherrman to the Lange campaign follows:
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July 23th, 2012
Molly Scherrman, Senior Advisor
Braley for Congress
PO Box 390
Waterloo, Iowa 50704
Cody Brown
Lange for Congress
PO Box 389
Independence, Iowa 50644
Dear Cody,
Our nation is at a crossroads. Iowa is facing enormous challenges, from an uncertain economic recovery to a worsening drought.
That's why it's critically important that voters get the chance to hear the candidates for Congress in Iowa's First District answer questions and offer details about who they are, where they come from and what they stand for before the November 6th election. Questions like:
- What will each candidate do to create jobs and grow the economy?
- What candidate will work to strengthen and protect middle class families?
- Who will protect Medicare and Social Security for generations of retirees to come?
- Who will work to break the gridlock and dysfunction in Washington?
- What will each candidate do to keep farmers on their feet during the drought?
Rep. Braley and Mr. Lange may disagree about many things, but I'm sure they agree that the people of Iowa deserve a chance to know where candidates for public office stand on the issues affecting their lives and our country.
A series of debates broadcast on TV and radio that offers Iowans the chance to ask the candidates unscreened questions and hear honest, unrehearsed answers is the best way to educate voters about the choice they have this fall.
That's why today, on behalf of Rep. Braley, I write to propose a series of three debates this fall, broadcast by Iowa media outlets. We propose an early start-date to the series of debates, to accommodate the large numbers of Iowa voters expected to vote early by mail or in-person weeks in advance of November 6th.
- First, we propose a televised debate in Cedar Rapids, the largest city in the new First District, broadcast by KCRG-TV on Friday, September 28th.
- Second, we proposed a debate in Cedar Falls, broadcast by Iowa Public Radio on Wednesday October 10th.
- Finally, we proposed a televised debate in Dubuque, hosted by Iowa Public Television, on Thursday November 1st.
We also propose that the debate format include as many Iowa voters asking questions as possible. Furthermore, candidates should not have access to questions beforehand.
We hope you accept this proposed schedule of debates. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Molly Scherrman
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