| After considering three offered dates for a debate to be hosted by the Austin American-Statesman, Republican incumbent Congressman Mike McCaul has declined the invitation. The Statesman's Jason Embry reports that both Democratic challenger Larry Joe Doherty and Libertarian nominee Matt Finkel said they would be available to debate on any of the three possible dates. For an incumbent who is so remarkably unknown in his own district, McCaul sure does not seem concerned about giving his constituents a better idea of where he stands on the issues. From the Statesman: The American-Statesman has tried for more than two weeks to schedule a debate with McCaul, R-Austin, and his two challengers this fall, Democrat Larry Joe Doherty and Libertarian Matt Finkel. McCaul’s campaign quickly rejected two proposed dates but left open a third until Monday, when it said he would not take part. “We have a time conflict with those days and we have so much scheduled in the district,” said McCaul campaign spokesman Jack Ladd. “We’re just not going to be able to do it.” Ladd could not immediately say what the exact scheduling conflicts were.
After Larry Joe Doherty was recently added to the DCCC's Emerging Races list, it is clear that Mike McCaul, a two-term incumbent, is running scared. Updated: The Doherty campaign has issued a statement on the (non) debates. "At a time when our financial markets are going bankrupt, our energy bills are skyrocketing and the public's trust in Congress has collapsed, it is irresponsible of McCaul to run away from the issues," said Doherty. "Texas families are struggling, and they deserve to know my opponent's views on the issues they face each day. My campaign is based on holding Washington accountable, and politicians like McCaul need to be held responsible for the pay-for-play style politics that place the burden on working families."
Well said, Larry Joe. |
