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Preparing to Debate
Originally appeared in CBSNewYork.com on 10/09/01
(AP) (TRENTON) October 9, 2001 9:34 pm
The two will not only compete against each other Wednesday night, but with Major League Baseball's playoffs, premiers of popular programs like "Ed" and "Dawson's Creek" and news coverage of the attacks in Afghanistan. The debate is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
McGreevey has a double-digit lead in most polls and has been preparing for this election since he nearly won the last one in 1997.
Schundler beat the GOP favorite to win his primary, but has been considered the long-shot for the general election ever since.
The McGreevey campaign has worked to keep a very low public profile, offering only two policy proposals in recent weeks. One was a plan to reduce auto insurance rates, a major theme that helped McGreevey to nearly upset Christie Whitman.
"I think our level of campaigning has been appropriate," McGreevey said.
Schundler meanwhile has kept up an aggressive campaign to lure independent voters, including mailing out 250,000 copies of a 10-minute promotional video.
Wednesday's debate, one of three televised encounters, will be the first time a potentially large number of voters will see both candidates together.
Many say Schundler has a possible edge because on television he looks poised and polished, while McGreevey earned knocks in 1997 for being wooden and collected the nickname "robo-candidate."
"This is McGreevey's race to lose. He's going to do everything he can to not make a mistake and Schundler's going to force him to make one," said Nick Acocella, a political analyst and publisher of the newsletter "Politifax."
McGreevey has gotten better in his public speaking and presentation, Acocella said. And the candidate has been preparing for this for four years, the analyst said.
"All he's got to do is not make a mistake. He's got the easy job," Acocella said.
Schundler has spent several weeks preparing for the debates, spokesman Bill Guhl said.
The former mayor of Jersey City will attack McGreevey on his record, Guhl said.
"We think the message that Bret will try to convey tomorrow night is that he has a solid record of reducing taxes and managing government solidly," Guhl said.
Schundler does have the skills to get that message across in a debate format, he said.
"Bret is very good at presenting his ideas and his vision for New Jersey. In that regard we expect Bret to do very well," Guhl said.
McGreevey said his plan for the debate is simple.
"My goal is to speak to middle class New Jersey families, to understand the clear distinctions between Mr. Schundler and myself," McGreevey said.
The candidates are scheduled to meet Oct. 25 for the second of the two mandatory debates. That one will be broadcast on the televison stations in Philadelphia and New York. The state's campaign finance laws require candidates who accept public matching funds to participate in two televised debates.
McGreevey and Schundler have agreed to meet Oct. 18 at a forum sponsored by the seven daily Gannett New Jersey newspapers, a radio station and Philadelphia cable channel.
The two will also appear together for a live radio call-in program on Oct. 16.
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