Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
Barr and Nader agree to debate

Several media reported today that independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr have agreed to debate Oct. 30 in Cleveland. UPDATE: C-SPAN will televise the debate ...
by George Dance
(libertarian)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Several media reported today that independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr have agreed to debate October 30 in Cleveland. Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin was also mentioned as a confirmed participant in some, but not all, accounts.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Politics Blog announced: "The presidential candidates are swarming Ohio, so why not have a debate? The gang will all be in Cleveland tomorrow -- the gang of Bob Barr, Ralph Nader and Chuck Baldwin, that is. The third party candidates face off on the economy at 4:30 p.m., with doors (850 Euclid Ave.) opening at 4. Admission is free, but the hall can only accommodate the first 250 people." (1)

The Boston Globe's Political Intelligence Blog reported only that, "Thursday in Cleveland, Libertarian Bob Barr and independent Ralph Nader are set to face off over the topic 'The Economy: Where do we Go from Here?'" (2)

The Miami Herald stated that "Ralph Nader and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr are confirmed to attend, and Constitution Party nominee Chuck Baldwin also may participate." (3)

Baldwin's campaign website has no information on the event. However, Nader's and Barr's sites both confirm that their candidate will attend, and affirm that Baldwin will be in the debate as well. Nader's events page carries a brief listing:

Thurs. Oct. 30th, 4:30pm
Presidential 3rd Party Debate
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland City Club
850 Euclid Ave, The City Club Building, 2nd Floor, Cleveland, OH 44114
Ralph Nader, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr (4)

On Barr's site, Jason Pye confirms at the Barr Blog that "The City Club of Cleveland is hosting a debate between Libertarian Party Presidential Nominee Bob Barr, consumer activist Ralph Nader and Pastor Chuck Baldwin on Thursday, October 30 at 4:30 p.m. EDT." Pye notes that "This will be the first professionally organized debate to include both Bob Barr and Ralph Nader." (5)

All six presidential candidates with a mathematical chance of winning have been invited. Nothing has been reported on whether Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney will attend, and her website could not be accessed at time of writing.

The Herald notes that "There was a last-minute debate between Nader and Baldwin in Washington on Oct. 21, but the inclusion of Barr in Cleveland makes the event noteworthy."

C-SPAN will tape the Cleveland debate for future airing, and it will be broadcast live by revolutionbroadcasting.com, rtrradio.com, votenader.org/live, and WCPN-FM 90.3. The Plain Dealer adds that "Dan Moulthrop of WCPN/Ideastream will moderate the debate."

The Globe and Herald both reported that there will also be a three-way vice presidential debate between Libertarian Wayne Allyn Root, the Constitution Party's Darrell Castle, and Nader's running mate, Matt Gonzalez, in Las Vegas on Sunday, November 2.

UPDATE, Oct. 31: The Barr Blog reports that "C-SPAN will air the debate between Bob Barr, Ralph Nader and Chuck Baldwin tonight at 7pm and again on Sunday, November 2nd, at 10:30am." http://blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/10/31/c-span-to-air-debate-tonight/

UPDATE, Nov. 1:

Bob Barr participates in third party debate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHxcGan9ekQ

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Sources

(1) Stephen Koff, "Presidential debate (the other one) in Cleveland Thursday,", Politics Blog, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 29, 2008.
Posted by http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/10/presidential_debate_the_other.html

(2) Foon Rhee, "Third-party candidates get their debates," Boston Globe, Oct. 29, 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/thirdparty_cand.html

(3) Maria Recio, "Third-party candidates set to debate Thursday," Miami Herald, Oct. 29, 2008.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/campaign-2008/story/747193.html

(4) "Nader/Gonzalez event schedule (accessed Oct. 29, 2008), Nader/Gonzalez 2008.
http://www.votenader.org/events/

(5) Jason Pye, "Bob Barr and Ralph Nader to Debate in Ohio," Barr Blog, Bob Barr 2008, Oct. 29, 2008.
http://blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/10/29/bob-barr-and-ralph-nader-to-debate-in-ohio/

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©2008 George Dance, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Last modified: Tuesday, November 4, 2008

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