Ehrlich Campaign Proposes Five Debates

ANNAPOLIS -- The Bob Ehrlich for Governor Campaign today sent the O’Malley campaign the following letter proposing five debates with Governor Martin O’Malley before the general election on November 2. The debates would be sponsored by diverse groups and presented in locations around Maryland, but all would be designed to produce the most direct exchanges of ideas possible between the two candidates.

Text of the letter is below:

August 12, 2010
Mr. Thomas Russell
Campaign Manager
Friends of Martin O'Malley
P.O. Box 38380
Baltimore, MD 21231

Dear Tom:

I am confident our respective campaigns will agree that holding multiple public debates is the best way for the citizens of Maryland to learn about the two leading gubernatorial candidates.

With 211,000 Marylanders currently unable to find work, Marylanders deserve a thorough exchange of ideas on how best to tackle the many challenges we face, particularly how to lead a lasting economic recovery in our state.

The Bob Ehrlich for Maryland campaign proposes five debates under conditions to be mutually agreed upon by the campaigns. We have enclosed with this letter five proposals that we believe are beneficial to both the citizens of Maryland and the candidates.

We look forward to a healthy and civil exchange of ideas and hope to reach an agreement with you so the sponsoring groups can begin preparations. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with you.
Best wishes,


Henry Fawell
Director of Communications

Proposed Debates:
WMAR-TV “Square Off” with Richard Sher as moderator; sixty minute debate with no timed responses. Taped for live on September 16th in the afternoon with no audience.
WJLA-TV/NewsChannel 8 in association with the Howard County Chamber of Commerce; sixty minutes with no timed responses; Bruce DePuyt as moderator.

Radio debate hosted by the Baltimore Jewish Council. Broadcaster, length, moderator and rules to be determined.

WOLB Radio hosts a sixty minute debate, moderated by Senator Larry Young. No timed responses.
WTOP Radio debate with host to be determined; Friday October 29th at 10 AM; sixty minutes with no timed responses.