All right, so we know that Kerry Healey has ducked out of the May 18 candidate’s forum at the Kennedy School of Government, thinking (perhaps correctly) that she’d be the one wearing the target on her back, and that four-on-one isn’t really a fair fight.
But according to her site, she’s the one itchin’ for a Battle Royale:
On April 25, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey challenged the announced candidates for governor to participate in a series of four debates between Primary Day and Election Day. All candidates that qualify for the November ballot would be eligible to participate in the debates and provide Massachusetts voters with multiple opportunities to hear directly from the candidates on the issues.
Thus far, only Deval Patrick has accepted Healeyâs challenge writing, âI am glad to accept your invitation and to join you in a series of debates between Primary Day and Election Day. I look forward to working out the format and hope we will arrange to have them in different regions of the Commonwealth.â
Healey said, âIâm pleased that Deval Patrick is willing to make a commitment to participate in four fall debates. Even though we have starkly different visions for the future of the Commonwealth, at least the voters will know where each of us stands on the key issues. I urge Tom Reilly, Chris Gabrieli, Christy Mihos and Grace Ross to make the same commitment as Deval Patrick and accept my debate challenge.â
The debate schedule, format and locations will be finalized as sponsors come forward and indicate their interest in hosting an event, including one in western Massachusetts.
Dang, that is some tough stuff, Kerry! So why not rope-a-dope at Harvard on the 18th? Ah well, “still waiting for a response” …
Seriously, if she could hold her own in that meeting, she’d do a lot for her campaign. She’s got more to gain than to lose by showing up.
Healey wants to have debates with the Democratic nominee, not with the candidates for the Democratic nomination. That’s smart politics, for reasons we’ve already discussed. There is certainly no inconsistency between saying that is what she wants and not debating anyone until the Ds choose their standard bearer.
with the Democratic candidates making her wait until the Democratic Primary is over rather than accepting her “challenge.” Along the same lines as Bob suggested: if it is in Kerry Healey’s best interest to avoid the debates now, then the Democrats should be able to debate her on their own terms, not hers.
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I initially agreed with Charley that Healey should join the K-School debate under a “high risk, high reward” theory. But the more I think about it, the more I conclude that she is better off avoiding the fray until after the Dem Primary.