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June 18, 2012 05:52 PM UTC

Pace and Casida commit to Aspen debate, but Tipton will participate only if "schedule permits"

  • 17 Comments
  • by: Jason Salzman

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

POLS UPDATE: Sal Pace rips Scott Tipton’s debate reluctance in a statement today:

After numerous debate invites, Congressman Scott Tipton has not agreed to debate challenger State Rep. Sal Pace in what is considered one of the most competitive races in the nation.

“The voters from the Third Congressional District deserve to hear from both candidates on the clear differences between the two of us,” Rep. Pace said. “With only four and a half months until the election, I think it’s fair to ask my opponent to debate and address his positions and votes with me for the people of the Third Congressional District. The district is one of the largest in the country, and I have agreed to numerous debates in order to maximize the information voters receive on this important race.

“I question why my opponent has yet to agree to any debates–is it his votes to cut Medicare to give multi-millionaires additional tax breaks? Is it his voting record putting his ‘friends’ over working, Colorado families of the Third District? Either way, the voters deserve to hear us debate our positions and values.”

It occurs to us, and probably bears noting, that this could well be a legitimately tough decision for Rep. Scott Tipton’s campaign. The fact is, Tipton has grave vulnerabilities in an unscripted debate setting, from his many weird on-the-record statements to votes that conflict wholesale with his rhetoric. It might really scare the hell out of them to contemplate a debate against a well-spoken opponent. Original post follows.

—–

Democrat Sal Pace and independent Tisha Casida, both running for Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, will face off later this year in a debate sponored by The Aspen Daily News and Aspen Public Radio, but Republican Scott Tipton will attend only if his “schedule permits,” according to Roger Adams, News Director of Aspen Public Radio.

A specific date for the debate has not been set, but it will likely occur between mid-September and mid-October, Adams said via email last week.

Other candidates will be invited after the June 26 primary, and more details will be available next month.

Comments

17 thoughts on “Pace and Casida commit to Aspen debate, but Tipton will participate only if “schedule permits”

    1. I went on Tipton’s website and there’s really not much of substance there. Perhaps he won’t debate because he cannot defend his positions, either intellectually or morally. I did not like his vote on HR436, which repealed the 2.3% excise tax on medical devices. What makes these people think you can cut taxes and then accelerate military, homeland security and CIA budgets at the same time? Can’t if you’re to have a sane fiscal policy. You’ve got to work the revenue side as well, and this guy, like most of this batch of GOP, doesn’t seem to understand that. Hey, who is running this show? Grover Norquist or the American people?

  1. A Tisha Casida presence debates has now been legitimated. Pace can now refuse to any CD3 debate where she’s not included and get his own good press for it.

    If she doesn’t come across as a total nutjob, she could be the GOP’s Eric Eidsness this cycle.

  2. does Scott think he can win by laying low?

    Win on Repub ID?

    Win on name recognition?

    Win with TV adverts?

    Win by not participating in “debates”?

    Win by avoiding the press?

    If he thinks he can, then don’t expect his schedule to be accommodating.

    1. and hope the national GOP campaign gets him elected, which worked for him last time. The only debate we can expect to see him is at Club 20 in early September.

      1. because his opponent wasn’t working very hard, and the climate of the 2010 election played right into his hands. If he puts forth the same effort in 2012 that he did in 2010, then he should expect a call from the NRCC telling him to get off of his ass.

        1. and start showing his face on the Western Slope to audiences other than small pockets of Democrats.

          I still wouldn’t expect much from Tipton.

      2. Salazar lost the support of a lot of women because of his reluctance to come out strongly in favor of women’s issues. Those same women have heard Pace say that he is pro-choice, and will not stay home this time.  

        1. he chose to go farming, on his ranch, during the uproar over Obamacare, instead of meeting with his constituents during the month long recess that year.

          1. I saw John Salazar in Grand Junction many times during the 2010 race, and his ranch is no where near here. I could probably even find pictures of the two of us together in Grand Junction.  

            1. He may have been in Grand Junction, but he never held a single town hall meeting, in the 3rd CD, on healthcare that summer.

              Trust me… the voters noticed and that’s why he is not a congressman anymore.

  3. As much as I vehemently disagree with her stance on many issues, many Republicans will relate to her. She should stay smart, professional, and on-message, and avoid any attempt to score points off Pace with mean-spirited remarks or “snark.” She won’t come across well with older voters if she seems to be rude and in the race only as a spoiler or for attention. If she sticks to her core values and reiterates that she believes an Independent candidate can and should win, based on policy stances X, Y, and Z, she’ll do very well and poach a good chunk of likely Tipton voters.

    1. Casida is so counter to Pace that no Dem/Lib would switch support but she will give folks on the right a reason to listen.  She just needs to sound sane, reasonable, and anywhere to the right of Sal to win converts (that’s if Scottie is just too too busy to show).  She’ll poach some Tipton votes but not enough to take him down and she’ll make a bit of a name for herself to go again in ’14.  Sal really needs to make his case for change.

      If Scottie does grace folks with his presence then the fireworks happen.  Sal & Tisha can put him on the spot and off his talking points by hitting him again & again on his Oil& Gas sellout.  Scottie is weaker without the ’10 GOTP Faux drumbeat and just being the incumbent isn’t enough to guarantee his seat.  This is a fun race to watch.        

  4. Something tells me that no matter what Tipton’s schedule will never permit.  Is Mr. Tipton afraid of the Aspenites?  Besides, most of them won’t get to vote if his Republican Secretary of State sidekick gets his way.

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