Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., and Democratic challenger Al Weed will engage in their first televised debate Monday as the two candidates strive to represent Virginia's fifth district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
During the debate, to be held at Liberty University, four panelists, including two members of Liberty's debate team, will direct three questions to each candidate.
This is not the first time the candidates have faced off in a midterm election -- Goode defeated Weed when he received the support of nearly two-thirds of voters in 2004, winning his fifth term in the House.
Goode said of all the issues in the campaign, he and his opponent differ most over immigration.
Weed Campaign Communications Director Curt Gleeson predicated that the war in Iraq will surface as an important issue.
"Every voter says [Iraq] is the biggest issue," Gleeson said, adding that the war lends itself to discussion of a lack of "trust in Congress."
Gleeson also said immigration, while not a prevalent issue in the fifth district, will most likely be addressed by the panelists.
"When we talk about important issues in the fifth district, immigration is not at the top of the list -- there are no illegal immigrants in the fifth district," Gleeson said. "Still, we must secure the borders, we must hold employers of illegal aliens accountable and give them the tools they need to identify illegal immigrants."
Once these steps are taken, Weed would encourage illegal immigrants to pursue "the path to citizenship," according to Gleeson.
"We need to get them involved in a serious process to become citizens," he said. "This means requiring them to take classes, to learn English."
Goode, who has previously proposed building a physical barrier along the Mexican border, accused his opponent of supporting "amnesty for illegal [immigrants]" and said measures must be taken to secure the borders.
"Our borders are not secure," Goode said. "Having the National Guard on the border has helped, but drug smugglers smuggle not only drugs but people into the country."
Additionally, Goode said he hopes to discuss his plan to explore alternative energy sources.
Examining other options for fuel and energy "will enhance our economy in Virginia, and it will enable us to not be so subject to the shifting plans of the Middle East," Goode said.
Despite Goode's success during the last election, Gleeson said the political climate of 2006, tarnished by President Bush's low approval ratings and Goode's involvement in the MZM controversy, lends itself to a Weed victory.
The MZM controversy surfaced when it was revealed that a former California congressman, Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, was involved in a bribery scandal with MZM Inc., a defense contractor. The company was previously headed by an individual named Mitchell Wade, who has admitted that he made illegal campaign contributions to Goode. Goode has repeatedly said he was unaware of any illegal activities and that all of his campaign's contributions linked to MZM were given to local charities.
"Nationally, politics is extremely different," Gleeson said. "This year, people know Al, and Virgil has to talk about issues. You can look at 2004 as the beginning of this campaign."
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