By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-239-147.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.239.147) on Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 11:22 am: Edit Post |
McNally squawks about rival's refusal to debate
McNally squawks about rival's refusal to debate
McNally squawks about rival's refusal to debate
By Ray Hackett
Norwich Bulletin
Photo
John Shishmanian/Norwich Bulletin
Max Cummings, 18, of East Lyme, a volunteer for Shaun McNally, a Democratic primary candidate for Congress, protests outside party-endorsed candidate Jim Sullivan's office in Norwich Monday.
2004 ELECTIONS »
Visit the Elections section for complete coverage of local and national elections.
NORWICH -- Congressional candidate Shaun McNally accused his Democratic rival of "chickening out" in his refusal to agree to a debate prior to the Aug. 10 primary.
And to emphasize the point, a McNally volunteer dressed up in a chicken suit and stood outside Jim Sullivan's campaign office Monday on Main Street in downtown Norwich.
"The voters of the 2nd District deserve better than a candidate who is unwilling or afraid to discuss the issues with his opponent in a public setting," McNally said Monday. "The people of the 2nd District should be asking themselves, where is Jimmy Sullivan? If he can't debate as a candidate, how can he hope to participate in debates on important issues if he is a congressman?"
Sullivan campaign spokesman Michael Winters dismissed the criticism, saying it wasn't them but McNally camp that ended negotiations for a debate.
"We said we'd love to debate, but we want that debate in Enfield or Vernon or Tolland," Winters said. "Those are the parts of this district that neither of us are that well-known yet. We put it back in their court and they haven't responded."
McNally and Sullivan met in only one formal debate. That one was last May at Connecticut College in New London three days before the 2nd District Democratic Convention.
Sullivan, in the past, has disputed McNally's claims that he was ducking a debate, saying they have faced each other more than 30 times at town committee meetings and other gatherings.
The winner of the primary faces Republican incumbent Rob Simmons.
rhackett@norwichbulletin.com