With the Nov. 5 general election fast approaching, East Lansing and campus student leaders are working to bring the gubernatorial candidates to separate public debates.
Although neither debate has been confirmed, the AARP and ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, have spoken the campaigns of Democratic Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and GOPLt. Gov. Dick Posthumus about separate debates.
The AARP - the American Association of Retired Persons - has submitted a formal request for a contest in East Lansing. That debate tentatively would be held Sept. 12 at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road.
“We’re a city that believes in public opinion, so we’re an obvious choice,” Mayor Mark Meadows said. “With debates, you’re able to understand the differences between the candidates and decide which one would best represent you.”
But there might be another opportunity for East Lansing residents to witness a gubernatorial sparring.
ASMSU Student Assembly Chairperson Matt Weingarden said a campus debate is a possibility, but not yet official.
“We’re talking to specific people and looking at our resources because it would cost a lot of money,” he said. “If a lot of circumstances came together, yes, this would be great for the student body and great for MSU. But those circumstances aren’t guaranteed yet.”
If ASMSU is able to bring a debate to campus, it would shoot for early October for the event, Weingarden said. ASMSU has not yet reserved a venue or sent a formal request to the campaigns.
The Granholm and Posthumus campaigns said the campus debate is a possibility, but would be one of many requests.
“We’re clearly going to have more requests than there are days before the election,” Granholm campaign spokesman Chris DeWitt said. “But (an MSU debate) is certainly possible. We just need to get together with the Posthumus camp.”
Posthumus campaign spokesman Sage Eastman said many factors, such as the amount of debates possible before Nov. 5 and locations, are being looked at.
“If groups on campus put out a request, we will definitely consider it,” he said. “Figuring out the numbers and the formats of the debates will help determine where they will be held.”
Political science Professor Carol Weissert said the last high-profile debate on campus was between President George Bush, then-Gov. Bill Clinton and Texas billionaire Ross Perot in the 1992 presidential election. She couldn’t recall the last gubernatorial debate at MSU.
“It would be perfectly wonderful for MSU to do this,” she said. “This is an interesting campaign. There’s not an incumbent, there’s a woman on the ticket and it’s a highly visible campaign.
“It would be a great opportunity for students to get involved and really get a feel for both candidates.”
Katie Byrne can be reached at byrnecat@msu.edu.
