UPDATE June 7, 2012: The June 7 debate will be streamed live at this website.
SALT LAKE CITY – If you can’t convince your opponent to debate with you, just do the next best thing – debate a cardboard cutout of him. That’s what former Utah state Sen. Dan Liljenquist is doing in his campaign against U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch.
The debate will also feature video clips of Hatch talking about his position on major issues.
“If Senator Hatch refuses to debate his record, we will debate it for him,” said Liljenquist. “Multiple news organizations across this state have called for televised debates so the voters can compare the two candidates side-by-side. We will offer that opportunity on Thursday night, in Senator Hatch’s own words.”
An official invitation was extended to the Hatch campaign, with no response.
Liljenquist spokeswoman Holly Richardson said the move is not new to Utah politics as Hatch also held debates against cardboard cutouts of his primary opponent when he ran for the Senate in 1976.
Richardson said that Hatch said at his cardboard debate that his opponent seemed like he had decided he doesn’t have to run a race. She called Hatch’s past statement ironic.
The event is open to the public. The debate is June 7 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Sons of Pioneers building, 3301 East 2920 South, Salt Lake City. The Liljenquist campaign will stream the debate live on the internet. The campaign will also make video of the debate available after the event.
Submitted by the offices of Dan Liljenquist.
This guy is starting to make himself look nuts.
I am not a fan of political debates, they’re a waste of time. First, the debates are controlled by the moderator, who is usually a far left leaning Democrat, Second, the real issues are rarely ever debated; Third, debates are meaningless because nobody votes for somebody because they look good on TV or can debate…wait, we elected a president in 2008. I rest my case.
Do we know which site will be broadcasting this debate?
We do, Matty – story is updated at the top as well. The debate will be live streamed on this website: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/grassroots4dan
Just remember everyone that Hatch voted FOR the unconstitutional NDAA Bill. So much for him.