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LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigans two gubernatorial candidates began Monday with angry words over whether to hold debates but ended it by cordially answering questions at a town hall meeting and agreeing to have coffee together.
It still remained unclear whether there will ever be a formal debate between Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg Bernero.
The congenial exchange between Snyder and Bernero Monday evening at the Hawthorne Valley Country Club came at the end of a daylong clash over debates.
Snyder told WJR radio host Paul W. Smith Monday morning that he was done negotiating over debates since Bernero didnt accept his Friday offer to do three. He dismissed debates as largely sound bites and bickering.
Snyder, who calls himself one tough nerd in his ads and campaign literature, skipped two out of three gubernatorial debates sponsored this spring and summer by the Michigan Republican Party.
The wealthy Ann Arbor businessman spent $2.3 million running ads during the primary election and pumped $6 million of his own money into his campaign. Although the more than 50 town hall meetings he has held have been open to the public, a large share of the audience consists of Snyder supporters who heard about the meetings from the campaign.
Bernero said residents should get a chance to see both opponents together answering tough questions from the media about how they would revive Michigans economy and chart a better path for the future.
The voters deserve to hear our unscripted answers, Bernero said. He cant just buy his way into the governors office.
Bernero crashes Snyder's town hall meeting at country club - The Oakland Press News > Politics: The best place for news in and around Oakland County
One way to make sure you don't lose the debate? Don't go.
It still remained unclear whether there will ever be a formal debate between Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg Bernero.
The congenial exchange between Snyder and Bernero Monday evening at the Hawthorne Valley Country Club came at the end of a daylong clash over debates.
Snyder told WJR radio host Paul W. Smith Monday morning that he was done negotiating over debates since Bernero didnt accept his Friday offer to do three. He dismissed debates as largely sound bites and bickering.
Snyder, who calls himself one tough nerd in his ads and campaign literature, skipped two out of three gubernatorial debates sponsored this spring and summer by the Michigan Republican Party.
The wealthy Ann Arbor businessman spent $2.3 million running ads during the primary election and pumped $6 million of his own money into his campaign. Although the more than 50 town hall meetings he has held have been open to the public, a large share of the audience consists of Snyder supporters who heard about the meetings from the campaign.
Bernero said residents should get a chance to see both opponents together answering tough questions from the media about how they would revive Michigans economy and chart a better path for the future.
The voters deserve to hear our unscripted answers, Bernero said. He cant just buy his way into the governors office.
Bernero crashes Snyder's town hall meeting at country club - The Oakland Press News > Politics: The best place for news in and around Oakland County
One way to make sure you don't lose the debate? Don't go.
