Two of California's three Republican gubernatorial candidates are showing up at tonight's debate on Brandman University's Irvine campus, and neither is named Meg Whitman.
Meg Whitman's campaign press secretary, Sarah Pompei, explains the duck thus.
"Sacramento politicians who are struggling to get traction, like Steve Poizner, try and make issues out of debates a year before the election.
Meg's not a Sacramento politician and she's not desperate for attention."
That's a pretty weak defense and works into the meme her opponents are building against her.
So far, Whitman's been plagued by the perception she's been conducting a front-running campaign by avoiding debates and key interviews.
On September 16, she declined to participate in a forum with her opponents because of a prior commitment to a Fortune Magazine event.
She also declined to participate in a May debate over budget ballot issues, and in early September she turned down a debate on a popular radio show with her two opponents.
Instead, she promised to make arrangements for an appearance on the radio show at a later date -- sans opponents, Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell.
So when's she going start engaging w/the others?
The first debate she's slated to appear at is March, 2010.
