LSP Research: Wendy Davis Debate Proposal Shows Confidence in Herself, Trust in Texans

Provided below is a Lone Star Project research memorandum that details the failure of Republican candidates for governor to participate in a comprehensive series of debates. It further confirms that in the nearly 20 years that Greg Abbott has run for and served in state-wide office, he has participated in only one general election debate.

“Texans deserve to hear more than television commercials and news coverage about Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott. Voters want the chance to hear directly from both candidates for governor in straight-forward debates. Greg Abbott has been in statewide office for nearly 20 years, but has taken part in only one debate that entire time. Abbott has a chance now to debate Wendy head-to-head around the state. If Greg Abbott has any confidence in himself or his message, he’ll say “yes.”

—Matt Angle, Lone Star Project Director

Memorandum

To:        Interested Parties
From:    Lone Star Project Research
Re:        Recent History of Texas Gubernatorial Debates
Date:     May 20, 2014

Overview

On average, there has been one formal gubernatorial debate per election, since 1990. There were two debates in 2002 and one in 2006, 1998 and 1994.

Twice, in 1990 and in 2010, there were no formal debates involving a joint appearance. Both were the results of ultimatums by Republican candidates.

In 1990, Ann Richards and Clayton Williams did not hold a formal debate due to Williams’ insistence that Richards sign a pledge to refrain from negativity. However, when Williams-induced gaffes resulted in his campaign slipping in the polls, the two engaged in two late-October televised appearances from remote locations.

In 2010, Rick Perry refused to debate Bill White until he released all of his tax returns. White accepted at least six debate invitations and his allies ran ads calling Perry a “coward,” to no avail.

Greg Abbott’s debate history is extremely limited. Records only revealed one formal debate as a statewide candidate—in 2002 against Kirk Watson—though there may have been candidate forums not widely reported in the press. That debate was only 30 minutes in length. In fact, Abbott complained about the short format, stating that “thirty minutes is very, very cramped.”

Gubernatorial Debates

Perry & White (2010)
Rick Perry refused to debate because he said Bill White hadn’t released all his tax returns from his years in public service. White had accepted at least six debate invitations.

The media reported that it was the first time since 1990 that there was no gubernatorial debate in Texas.

Perry also refused to speak to newspaper editorial boards. White ended up pulling in major newspaper endorsements.

Perry, Bell, Strayhorn & Friedman (2006)
The only debate between the four major gubernatorial candidates drew unusual interest and was relatively well watched. Format may have contributed to the debate’s success by including public input and candidate questions to each other. News coverage centered on tax cuts, immigration and border security, and education.

Despite Rick Perry’s insistence on a Friday evening debate the day before the Red River Rivalry game, press showed the debate viewer ratings were high in Texas’s largest cities.

“The debate was the No. 1 program in its time period Friday in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, according to the Nielsen Media Research ratings. It was only the third-most watched show in the 7 p.m. hour in Dallas. But more than twice as many people were watching than during the 2002 gubernatorial debate on PBS.”
 

Perry & Sanchez (2002)
The first debate on October 9, 2002 at Rice University in Houston was attended by 700 people and shown on broadcast television. It was also carried live on about two dozen television stations around the state and simulcast in Spanish.

The two met again in Dallas at the PBS-affiliate KERA’s studios on October 24. That debate was comprised of questions from a single moderator.

An additional debate was scheduled by the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce in Houston on October 29. The stage was set, including podiums for the candidates and a panel of journalists. However, while Perry attended, Sanchez refused, citing the “partisan tone” of the event, according to his campaign.

Bush & Mauro (1998)
George W. Bush only agreed to one televised debate with Garry Mauro; on a high school football Friday night in El Paso.

The format was low key and conventional with moderator Bob Moore, metro editor of the El Paso Times, asking questions of both candidates

Richards & Bush (1994)
The debate was coordinated as a joint event with the Kay Bailey Hutchison-Richard Fisher Senate debate preceding the gubernatorial debate. Nearly 1000 people were in attendance in the KERA studio.

The gubernatorial candidates took 10 questions from a 21-citizen panel. Seven of the questioners in the second debate were from panelists who already had received a turn during the Hutchison-Fisher encounter.

Coverage of the debate on local 10 p.m. newscasts was upstaged by reporting on flooding throughout the state. All three network affiliates led their newscasts with weather coverage. The gubernatorial debate was repeated at 11:35 p.m. Friday on WFAA.

Richards & Williams (1990)
Ann Richards and Clayton Williams had no formal joint appearance debate due to Williams’ insistence that Richards first sign a ”no negative campaign pledge.” Richards refused.

But, on October 11, 1990, Williams refused to shake Richards’ hand at a joint Greater Dallas Crime Commission appearance, calling her a “liar”. Williams was incensed about her attack ads on his business practices, including allegations of money laundering. Williams’ action at the joint appearance followed his gaffe making light of rape.

After the handshake refusal, Republicans, including President George H.W. Bush, marshalled support for Williams.

With Richards closing in the polls, Williams and Richards agreed to participate in two televised interviews hosted by KDFW, Channel 4 TV in Dallas, with questions from the moderators
 

Greg Abbott Debate History

Attorney General Debates
There is record of Greg Abbott participating in a formal campaign debate only once: On October 23, 2002 against former Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.

The attorney general debate was part of a two-day slate of debates by all major statewide candidates sponsored by PBS station KERA in Dallas. On October 23, Senate candidates held their debate.

In August 2002, the two met in a joint event at the Pinecrest Country Club in Longview. There was no formal debate or anything other than a cordial exchange.

No record of debates was found between Abbott and lawyer David Van Os in 2006.  It was the second time the two faced each other, the first being Van Os’s challenge to then-Justice Abbott in 1998 for the Texas Supreme Court.

In October 2010, Democratic challenger Barbara Ann Radnofsky and Abbott made a joint appearance on Houston PBS program “Red, White and Blue.”  While not a formal debate, it was dubbed as the “closest forum to a debate” the two would have. The 26 minute interview was taped on Monday October 11 and broadcast at the end of that week.

Supre me Court Tenure
No press record of a Supreme Court debate involving Abbott was found.