More mud flies about ‘ducking’ debates

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998 | 11:21 a.m.

There is still a chance the two major candidates seeking to represent Nevada in the U.S. Senate will agree to a televised debate sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.

Incumbent Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and his challenger, Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., were supposed to have faced off Thursday at an AARP-sponsored debate in Reno. In keeping with the mudslinging that has dominated this race, both sides blamed one another in news releases when the event was canceled.

The debate was to be taped at the KNPB Channel 5 studio in Reno and also was to be broadcast on KLVX Channel 10 in Las Vegas.

But a monkey wrench was thrown into the process when Ensign was forced to remain in Washington, D.C., as congressional Republicans wrangled with the Clinton administration over the 1999 federal budget bill.

KNPB Producer Rosemary McCarthy said Ensign agreed to participate via satellite but the candidates couldn't agree on a time. One thing led to another until both men got so fed up that they issued news releases blasting one another.

"Harry Reid continues his habit of ducking debates," Ensign said. "I don't know what he is afraid of. My staff and I moved heaven and earth to make it work for both of our schedules, and Harry kept throwing up obstacles to put me at a disadvantage. These tactics only hurt the people of Nevada."

Ensign accused Reid of "ducking" the debate to attend a campaign event. He said Reid initially refused to allow him to participate in the debate via satellite, and then accepted but only if the studio audience was made up of AARP members and supporters of the senator.

Ensign said Reid then offered to tape answers to be edited later but demanded that there be no interaction between the candidates and that the congressman's supporters be kept from the studio during taping.

Reid lashed back, calling Ensign's charges "ludicrous." Reid, in fact, showed up at the studio on time. Even when the event was canceled, he spent nearly an hour outside the studio addressing 150 supporters and the media, Reid spokeswoman Jenny Backus said.

"It's unfortunate that once again John has chosen to make such a reckless and irresponsible assertion," Reid said. "The so-called campaign event he mentions in his press statement was, in fact, an appearance before my supporters prior to the debate."

Reid said Ensign informed him less than 24 hours before the scheduled debate that he could not meet the original timetable.

"I had looked forward to this debate before the AARP because my record is substantial with senior citizens," Reid said. "I recently received the Claude Pepper award, the highest congressional honor from America's seniors."

At Monday's radio debate at the KKVV studio in Las Vegas, both candidates expressed interest in rescheduling the AARP event, but neither committed to a firm date.