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O’Brien wants 10 forums with Kanjorski
Even by the standards of today’s campaign debate challenges, this one might be aiming high.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O’Brien’s congressional campaign is seeking 10 candidate forums with incumbent Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) between now and the May 18 primary day, allotting two for each of the counties in the district. The request was made in a letter Tuesday from O’Brien’s campaign manager to Kanjorski’s campaign manager.
“In this critical election year,” campaign manager Justin Carroll wrote, “I am sure you would agree that it is vitally important for voters to hear from our respective candidates, so that those voters can fairly and accurately assess our candidates’ records and positions on the issues.”
Carroll wrote that “as a small token of our good faith,” O’Brien would agree to doing the first forum in Nanticoke, Kanjorski’s home town.
The proposal for 10 forums is even more than Senate candidate Joe Sestak called for in his race against Arlen Specter. Assuming the first could be held as early as next week, such a schedule would still require a forum to be held once a week for 10 of the next 11 weeks.
Asked for comment, Kanjorski campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell quickly shot back.
“The Congressman is too busy doing the job he’s paid to do to worry about that now,” Mitchell wrote in an e-mail. “There will be enough time for politics later. I guess O’Brien has a lot of free time on his hands. Lackawanna County taxpayers should ask him why.”
February 23, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Tags: Corey O'Brien, PA-11, Paul Kanjorski
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Mancini
Feb 23rd, 2010
Man, ten debates, get out the popcorn and barcalounger!
But in a way, it seems that Corey is really trying to exploit Kanjo’s old age. Corey’s website has in big bold words, “ENERGY”. He’s just gonna try to wear the old guy out.
Why doesn’t he just challenge him to an arm wrestling contest too….
Still watching these two democrats going at it 10 times, fighting for the gibip county congressional seat will be the highest of high entertainment.
Even if there is something so ungentlemanly about this proposal by Corey o-bri-on.
DigitsMA
Feb 23rd, 2010
That was the most arrogant response I’ve seen from a campaign in many years. It shows a complete lack of respect for constituents and the people.
Kanjo’s manager could have said, we can not make every one, but let’s compromise to have some. Or, it is important for the people to hear our issues and lets do how many we can. Instead, we see what they are truly made of. I was on the fence, not anymore.
Barb Kingsley
Feb 23rd, 2010
Why can’t Mr. Mitchell schedule some weekend or evening debates, even hold them at a local college? His response does not make sense. What are they afraid of?
UnionGuy
Feb 23rd, 2010
He does everything he can to not have to spend real time with us and thinks his cash can spend his way out of in each election.
Not this time. Corey’s campaign came by my house in a small neighborhood two weeks ago in Pittston and he spent a good 10 minutes talking to me about real issues. That’s what I want in a congressman. But this helped make up my mind 100%.
Brett
Feb 24th, 2010
Corey Wins as long as he keeps meeting as many people as possible, keep up the good work Corey!
phillip
Feb 24th, 2010
yawn! Corey has no chance,no issues!
Brian
Feb 24th, 2010
Mr. O’Brien is one of the most arrogant people I have ever met. Just 2 years ago he stood on stage with the Congressman singing his praises. Why the sudden turn. He has not even completed 1/2 of his first term as commissioner and that is the extent of his experience. What legislature has he ever written on any level, NONE. So clearly the man to vote for is the proven one, Conressman Kanjorski.
JW
Mar 5th, 2010
It boils down to a very simple thing. Who is in a better position to keep Barletta from getting near that seat? O’Brien is. Kanjorski has screwed up too much. Kanjorski doesnt even have the sense to meet with the local democratic clubs in his district when he’s invited. He’s going to get heavily campaigned against in the primary because O’Brien has actually gotten out and met enough people to get a decent campaign network going. He may not get the county endorsements, but you had better believe he is going to have all of the OFA people working for him. In PA-11 its all about feet on the ground. Especially since Kanjorski isn’t exactly a speaker that is going to come across well in television ads.
As long as O’Brien’s campaign manager keeps at it the way that he has been he’ll take the 2 major counties in the district plus at least 1 of the smaller ones.