Davis has puzzled some by not accepting Valley debate
Opinion // Peggy Fikac
Peggy Fikac May 18, 2014 Updated: May 19, 2014 1:44 p.m.
AUSTIN - Candidates' maneuvering over debates usually plays out one way: the one who's behind pushes them early and often, and the one who's ahead plays it cool.
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Not so far in the race for governor between Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis and Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, leading in the polls.
Expect that to change.
Davis, who raised some eyebrows by failing to seize on the chance for a Rio Grande Valley debate initiated by Abbott, will soon propose "an unprecedented debate schedule that will give all Texans in communities across the state the opportunity to hear the clear choice they have for their next governor," said Davis campaign communications director Zac Petkanas.
Petkanas said the campaign is glad that Abbott "is as eager as Wendy Davis to debate throughout the state of Texas - including in the Valley. His very public commitment to more debates is encouraging."
Whether her move will shift the perception on this issue in Davis' favor remains to be seen. Abbott's camp will try to make sure it doesn't.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa has been dismissive of Abbott's debate offer. He said Abbott has little to lose in the predominantly Democratic Valley, and that what's needed is a series of debates all around the state. "All it was, was a publicity stunt on his part," Hinojosa said.
Taking it seriously
Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch said the attorney general, out front on the debate matter at this point, "is committed to making sure the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas has a voice in this election."
"Greg Abbott will participate in televised debates, and thus far has accepted one debate invitation, while Sen. Davis has accepted zero," Hirsch said.
"It's offensive that the Davis campaign would disparage the Rio Grande Valley by labeling a discussion about Texas' future a 'stunt,' " Hirsch added. He suggested the Davis camp did so by not denouncing Hinojosa's comment, made in response to a question on a conference call with the campaign and reporters.
McAllen Monitor Editor Carlos Sanchez has written about his concern when the Davis camp didn't commit to discuss the Valley debate proposed by Abbott. He saw it as an opportunity for the region to play an important role.
"What the Abbott campaign is doing may well be a publicity stunt, but I'm taking it seriously," Sanchez said when asked about Hinojosa's comment. "The Monitor is prepared to host a debate and the Abbott campaign has said it wants to participate. I look forward to speaking with the Davis campaign to see if we can reach agreement on having a debate in the Valley."
The debate issue, while attracting some attention, isn't on the radar of most Texans. It's months away from the election. And it's a commitment for a candidate to schedule a debate, since it requires significant time to prepare for one.
Puzzling decision
But University of Texas-Pan American political scientist Jerry Polinard said the way the Davis camp handled the matter was puzzling. He gave credit to Abbott's willingness to debate Davis "in the bluest part of the red state."
Polinard said he doesn't expect the move to "nudge voters in the area to vote Republican," but that it gives Abbott credibility when he talks about not ignoring the Valley. He said he'd be surprised if Davis doesn't respond positively at some point, but that her delay is in Abbott's favor.
"I can't think of any good reason why she wouldn't debate him anywhere, anytime. I certainly can't think of any reason the campaign wouldn't have accepted the invitation, given it was not time-specific," Polinard said. "They should have jumped on it like a hairy spider."
Peggy Fikac
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Peggy Fikac is Austin bureau chief and columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, delving into politics and policy in areas including the state budget, where the intersection of the two is compelling.
She covers Gov. Greg Abbott, who won the state's top seat after a nationally noticed campaign against Wendy Davis; dug into Ted Cruz's ascent to the U.S. Senate; covered George W. Bush as governor and during his races for president; and has bird-dogged Rick Perry's tenure as Texas' longest-serving governor, his White House ambitions and his indictment.
Peggy was bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle as well as the Express-News for more than five years when the two combined their Austin operations.
She previously worked for the Associated Press, where she covered the late Ann Richards during both of her campaigns for governor and specialized in public education and legislative coverage. Peggy also has been the correspondent for three Rio Grande Valley newspapers, starting as a senior at her alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin.
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