Ehrlich Refuses to Participate in NAACP Debate

Ehrlich stalls for weeks and now
categorically rejects debates close to election

BALTIMORE, MD (October 3, 2006) – Today, Bob Ehrlich refused to participate in a gubernatorial debate with Martin O’Malley hosted by the NACCP at Morgan State University on Monday, October 24. During a meeting today with the O’Malley campaign and after months of stalling, the Ehrlich campaign categorically rejected the O’Malley/Brown request for multiple TV debates, including debates on MPT, WMDT and the NAACP or any other debate after the week of October 13.

“Bob Ehrlich has made clear that he’d rather spend millions in sleazy and misleading TV ads rather than debate his record and his vision for Maryland,� said Hari Sevugan, O’Malley/Brown Communications Director. “It’s understandable that he wants to avoid being held accountable for his record of fighting for the special interests, but Maryland families deserve better. If Bob Ehrlich can’t be trusted to stand up and defend his record, he can’t be trusted to stand up for Maryland families.�

In multiple letters to the Ehrlich campaign, in period between July 20 and September 1, the O’Malley/Brown campaign proposed a total of seven debates, five debates between Bob Ehrlich and Martin O’Malley, and two debates between Kristen Cox and Anthony Brown to allow Maryland families to hear the stark difference between the candidates.

The O’Malley/Brown campaign received no written response to any of these requests.

On September 1, almost five weeks ago, the campaigns met and agreed on an initial framework for two television debates and one radio debate, with additional debates to be added proportionately thereafter. Since then the O’Malley/Brown campaign has sent three letters to Ehrlich outlining possible venues, sponsors and dates that fit the framework. Again they received no response for weeks.

Today, stalling for five weeks after the initial meeting, and more than two months after the initial letter, the Ehrlich’s campaign stated categorically that Bob Ehrlich would not participate in any debates after an arbitrary and self-imposed deadline of the week of October 13.

And—as was raised and noted at the meeting—Ehrlich categorically rejected several debates including the NAACP debate to be held at Morgan State University. Martin O’Malley has already committed to the NAACP debate. Additionally, Ehrlich categorically rejected the following debates to which O’Malley has agreed to:

  • WJZ Channel 13 in Baltimore, MD, Week of October 16 or after
  • WMDT 47 in Salisbury, MD, Week of October 16 or after
  • Maryland Public Television, Week of 23rd
  • NAACP 2006 Gubernatorial Debate, Monday, October 24, 7:00 p.m., Carl Murphy Fine Arts Center, Morgan State University
  • WTOP’s “The Politics Programâ€? with Mark Plotkin , Week of October 30, 2006

BOB EHRLICH: CAN’T BE TRUSTED TO STAND UP AND DEFEND HIS RECORD; CAN’T BE TRUSTED TO STAND UP AND DEFEND MARYLAND FAMILIES

###

Friends of Martin O’Malley – 2400 Boston St., Suite 203 – Baltimore, MD 21202 – 410-814-4206 – fax: 410-814-4218
Authority: Friends of Martin O’Malley, Martin F. Cadogan, Treasurer