VIRGINIA BEACH
Rep. Thelma Drake canceled a joint appearance on Wednesday with 2nd District challenger Glenn Nye.
Her appearance at the Bayside Library, hosted by the League of Women Voters of South Hampton Roads, was canceled because of a family emergency that called Drake out of town, said her spokesman, Corry Bliss.
Nye did appear at the event Wednesday, speaking for an hour to a group of 20 to 30 people.
The event was promoted as a debate by the Nye campaign, but the League of Women Voters and the Drake campaign took exception to the characterization.
"It was a forum, not a debate," Bliss said.
Not a forum either, the league said. "A Conversation with the Candidates," the league's promotional fli er read.
"If we say a conversation, we mean a conversation," said South Hampton Roads league President Seneca Bock, who said Wednesday afternoon she had not been told of the cancellation. "If we say a forum, we mean a forum. If we say a debate, we mean a debate.
"This was never portrayed as a debate."
The difference, Bock said, is in degrees of formality. There's no direct dialogue between candidates in a "conversation," she said.
"Whatever they want to call it," Nye spokesman Will Jenkins said, "they were both going to be there, sharing their viewpoints."
The candidates will have at least two more opportunities to debate. At noon Sunday, a taped, 30-minute debate will be televised on WVEC-TV's "On the Record," hosted by Joel Rubin. At 7 p.m. Oct. 28, the candidates will debate in Hampton.
John Warren, (757) 222-5114, john.warren@pilotonline.com
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we can only hope
"Has Thelma temporarily "suspended" her campaign too?"
Like what???
Hopefully, Thelma is on her way out with the rest of her Republican croonies! How tacky is it to cancel the opportunity to debate some major issues during these troubling times!! Maybe she is (like) hanging out with Tina Fey, oops--(like) sorry I meant Sarah Palin (like) the NO-SHOW queen of media interviews.
MAYBE WE'RE BEING TOO HARD ON THE WOMAN
She may actually be out there looking for "More Energy NOW!"
On the other hand, nevermind......
Drake the mistake
Drake the MISTAKE isn't going to show up, but who cares besides Ms Bock. It's good to know Nye will be there and have a "conversation" with the League of Women Voters. Let's hope they listen to what he has to say, but frankly I don't think they care.
No show
Has Thelma temporarily "suspended" her campaign too?
Drake is Allergic to Debates
Interesting . . . Drake had "another obligation" two years ago when she was invited to debate Phil Kellam. I guess debating her positions and voting record in front of intelligent women gives her the heeby-jeebies. Kinda like her speeches and record do to intelligent voters.
"We flew over the Green Zone and the soldiers waved to us and we waved back." Tee hee
whatever they want to call it
Whatever they want to call it is right, but why is Bock so defensive? Let's face it the League of Women Voters isn't interested in what Nye has to say they just want to pander to Thelma Drake the mistake of VA.