Still Waiting on GOP YouTube Debate
The Republican CNN/YouTube debate may still be on -- but so far two of the biggest names in the GOP field have yet to sign up for the Nov. 28 event.
Aboard CNN's new state-of-the-art bus that serves as its portable news bureau, David Bohrman, CNN's Washington honcho, said CNN hasn't received a definite confirmation from Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.
"We're still waiting for it," Bohrman said, as he showed off the new bus that is partly a newsroom, a studio and a satellite truck for CNN. The 30 or so YouTube videos that will air on Nov. 28 will be transmitted off the bus.
Romney made headlines following the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate in July, when he criticized the format and took special note of one of the questioners -- a snowman asking about global warming. Romney told the Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader: "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman."
Initially, only Sen. John McCain and Rep. Ron Paul agreed to participate in the debate, co-hosted by Republican Party of Florida in St. Petersburg. But conservative bloggers started a Web site (SavetheDebate.com) and a Facebook group that put pressure on the candidates. Then Rudy Giuliani, who leads the Republican field in national polls, said that he'll take part in the event, leaving Romney, who trails Giuliani in national polls but leads in the early primary voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, on the spot. And Thompson, too. But the former senator just recently officially announced his candidacy and has yet to take part in any debates. Both Romney and Thompson, however, have effectively used online videos in their respective campaigns.
"We haven't made any decisions on November debate invitations yet," said Kevin Madden, Romney's spokesman.
Added Karen Hanretty, Thompson's spokeswoman: "We haven't committed to debates beyond October yet."
As of Monday afternoon more than 1,850 YouTube videos have been uploaded for the Nov. 28 debate.
-- Jose Antonio Vargas
Posted at 6:00 AM ET on Sep 25, 2007
Share This: 
Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Posted by: rok100 | October 21, 2007 8:46 PM
There is no enthusiasm for Romney and Thompson. Romney has mucho $$$ thus he can pay people to hold signs for him. Maybe best if they tune in, turn on, drop out.
Disclaimer: I am the original washpost, but the suits at Wash Post changed my moniker to washpost3 as punishment for not being a liberal.
Posted by: washpost3 | September 26, 2007 1:38 PM
Ron Paul won FOUR OUT OF FIVE GOP National Debates and was 2nd in one of them. He won or is 2nd or 3rd in most of the GOP Straw Polls nationwide.
Romney and Fred are afraid to further help create momentum to Ron Paul campaign by participating in yet another National Debate, where Ron Paul is very likely to win.
Posted by: iaoki | September 26, 2007 12:12 PM
Ron Paul is owning the internet. He has done very well in post-debate polling as well, placing first through third in many. Its more than a "grass-roots" campaign. It is bottom-up though, and that is powerful. Campaign financing rules and its tie to main stream media prohibit the media from reporting good numbers. Terms such as "semi-eccentric" and "outsider" are used to describe him by anchors...what is so eccentric about being principled, truthful, and consistent? What separates Dr. Paul from the flock are the very reasons he is well-respected by his colleagues and not entertained by lobbyists: statesmanlike representation of his constituents and a true upholding of his oath to defend the constitution. Fairer coverage is happening for Dr. Paul, and the Washington Post is doing a better job - keep it up! Thanks.
Posted by: wildboar | September 25, 2007 3:14 PM
Traditional presidential debates are little more than T-ball practice. Easy to prepare for and result in fewer injuries than a basebrawl. Some expections: "I knew John Kennedy, Where's the beef and Nixon forgot to shave."
The U-tube format is a refreshing change of pace. Sliders, Curves, Knuckle balls Fastballs · Splitters · Forkballs · Sinkers . Breaking balls · Sliders · Screwballs . Changeups.
After all, politics is America's second most favorite sport. As our President would say: "Bring 'em on."
Posted by: 2sense | September 25, 2007 3:08 PM
The "Youtube debate" format is, contrary to CNN's breathless hype, just a gimmick, and although I detest stuffed-shirt Romney, he is right on this one. Do we really need the Chris Crockers (s/he of the "Leave Britney ALONE!" vid) of the world helping to determine the next president? This is also an elitist form of debate that caters to the bourgeois and leaves many working and poor families who don't possess the requisite technology to participate on the sidelines. Fughedaboutit!
Posted by: gutterdandy | September 25, 2007 2:09 PM
Romney is entirely correct. Although the Democratic YouTube debate featured entertaining videos to watch, the questions were largely shallow and not particularly insightful.
Posted by: gregsm | September 25, 2007 12:05 PM
Americans deserve a president who isn't afraid to debate under any conditions. Ron Paul signed up for the You Tube debate, he participated in the Values Voter debate, and he's going to be in the PBS/Tavis Smiley debate this week.
Think he's a long-shot? He drew 1400 people in Chicago on Saturday. He has 47,000 volunteers signed up nationwide in local Meetup groups. He is the most-searched-for, most-read-about, and most-watched candidate on the Internet.
Posted by: drd6000 | September 25, 2007 11:52 AM
I think Romney and Thompson haven't replied to the debate because they probably are realizing that they will no longer be in the race by November 28. If you are watching their public appearances closely, you will realize that support for them is not out there. (You can't count the paid supporters/volunteers of Romney because they don't translate into votes.)
Posted by: rockyjc | September 25, 2007 9:03 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I think the GOP candidates should fist-fight for the nomination. Screw the debates! They're unmasculine, they reek of intellectually elitism and they tell us almost NOTHING about how the candidates can ride a horse, wield a chainsaw, threaten other countries, mispronounce words in a cool way, how they can swagger, smirk, bash Democrats and smear liberals, atheists and homosexuals like Adolf Hitler smeared...
...well, like he smeared liberals, atheists and homosexuals!
www.ByeGeorge.Org
www.HelpBuyTheBeer.Org