ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Deb Haaland’s campaign said she will not take part in KOB 4’s Oct. 8 governor’s debate or any other debates in the race.
Hours after KOB 4 updated viewers on the planned debate, Haaland’s campaign sent an email saying Gregg Hull was not serious about an “anytime, anywhere” debate.
“We will no longer be able to hold these dates and would like to move past this sideshow,” Haaland’s campaign manager said in an email.
The campaign manager said Haaland will continue traveling the state to meet voters instead.
Hull responded by saying he adjusted his schedule for the KOB 4 debate and that Haaland should do the same.
“She (Haaland) rejected all of your debate proposals leading up to this circus of her campaign’s own making because she is afraid to face the cameras and defend her record,” Hull said.
KOB 4 has worked since June 3 to set an hourlong live debate between Hull and Haaland after the June 2 primary election.
Hull’s campaign agreed on June 3 and Haaland’s campaign agreed on July 20, but by the end of August neither candidate had accepted the other campaign’s preferred date.
Hull wanted Oct. 5 or 6. Haaland wanted Oct. 12. Each campaign later offered other dates, but none matched.
So, we told both campaigns we would choose a date if they could not agree. We picked Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. and neither campaign had listed that date as unavailable.
KOB 4 told the campaigns before announcing the date publicly, five weeks before the debate. Hull said he will attend, while Haaland’s campaign said she has a scheduling conflict.
We asked Haaland’s campaign what the conflict is and had not received a response.
KOB 4 has offered time on every other date the campaigns have suggested and told media outlets across New Mexico they can carry the debate live for free.
Unless Haaland changes her schedule, we will still have two podiums on set and the event will be a conversation with Hull.
Email response from Deb Haaland’s campagin
“Deb has stood ready to debate her opponent and it’s disappointing that he continues to duck a proposed debate. We offered a location alongside numerous dates, and invited all New Mexico media to join us and unfortunately it seems that no one has taken us up on our offer. Frankly, I am shocked Gregg Hull rejected the debate given he’s on the record saying he would, “anytime, anywhere.” It’s clear that wasn’t a serious consideration for him.
Since July, our campaign has held eight different dates for a debate. However, Deb’s opponent is unwilling to agree to any of them, we will no longer be able to hold these dates and would like to move past this sideshow. Instead, Deb will continue to travel the state, will continue to meet with voters where they are, and will continue to be available for media interviews to share her vision with more New Mexicans. Deb looks forward to speaking with you all soon.”
Email response from Greg Hull’s campaign
“I’ll emphasize what Mayor Hull already said in his email earlier this week — it isn’t the date he wanted. It isn’t the date Secretary Haaland wanted. It’s the compromise date put forward by KOB. And the mayor adjusted his schedule to make it happen. Secretary Haaland should do the same. But let’s be honest here — Secretary Haaland never planned to debate. She turned you all down well before this. KRQE, KOAT, KVIA, the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican. These are all debates Mayor Hull accepted. She rejected all of your debate proposals leading up to this circus of of her campaign’s own making because she is afraid to face the cameras and defend her record.
Mayor Hull will be at the KOB debate on October 8 at 6 p.m. See you there.”
