Joe Sestak Accepts Debate Offer as One in a Statewide Series

By SESTAK FOR SENATE

The Sestak campaign accepts the offer by the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters to host a debate between Joe Sestak and Arlen Specter at WTXF studios in Philadelphia, as one in a series of statewide debates. A single debate in Philadelphia without honoring requests from other regions would be a disservice to the people of Pennsylvania, particularly at a time when they are demanding transparency from their public servants.

WITF in Harrisburg has already approached the campaign about hosting a debate to be broadcast on TV and radio, and other outlets throughout the state have also expressed interest. One debate in Philadelphia, for one hour, on a Saturday evening, as our beloved Phillies play the Mets at the Bank, with one minute responses after no opening statements, and with no voter input, is not sufficient to address the important national and regional issues of interest to Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is a large state with diverse local issues, such as dairy pricing, Marcellus shale drilling, and I-80 tolling. A series of debates throughout the Commonwealth in each media market is the only way to provide voters and local media across the state the attention and respect they deserve.

The Sestak campaign looks forward to working with the Specter campaign, the PAB, and other media representatives in coordinating the rest of a series of six debates, one in each of the state’s media markets, that are freely available to statewide TV and radio stations — as well as local media — so that as many Pennsylvanians have access as possible, including working with PAB to move their debate to a weekday evening when more people will have the opportunity to view and hear it, with clarification of responses’ timing.

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