The Student Council Legislative Affairs Committee is currently looking into hosting an on-Grounds debate between the candidates running for Virginia's Fifth District Congressional seat. Committee Co-Chair Matthew Cooper explained that his group is hoping to invite Democrat Tom Perriello, Republican Robert Hurt and independent Jeff Clark to a town-hall style debate in Old Cabell Hall.
Such a debate would give students direct access to "one of the most hotly contested house races in the whole country," said Isaac Wood, communications director for the University's Center for Politics and a former Cavalier Daily opinion columnist. The Student Council Committee has consulted with Wood, but the Center for Politics is not directly involved in organizing the debate.\nThe Committee still needs to negotiate several potential problems before a debate becomes fully possible, however.
Hurt has refused to attend a debate with Clark in the past, and Cooper explained that the situation is "a little sticky." Hurt's campaign might not want Clark to be given a platform to express his views, Wood said, for fear that his radical conservatism could "siphon off some conservative voters." Perriello's campaign, on the other hand, might like Clark to be in the public eye as much as possible, Wood said.
Regardless, Student Council wants all three candidates to attend the event. "Our policy is that we need to include everyone in the debate," Cooper said.
But Clark still has a very slim chance of contending for the congressional seat, and including him, Wood said, might distract attendees from the two candidates currently in a dead heat - Hurt and Perriello.
There is no absolute answer to this question, Wood said, and debate organizers must decide whether they think that Clark has enough strength in the polls to merit a platform. Committee Co-Chair Kristin Twiford said an invitation would be sent to all three candidates and that the Committee is currently trying to work out the best way to approach the campaigns.
The debate on Grounds would supplement televised debates already scheduled for Oct. 13, 19 and 21, while also giving students a better chance to get to know the candidates.
Discussion likely would center on issues that particularly affect students, especially economic concerns.
"I expect the candidates would try to make the case that their policies would be the best financially for the district as well as other voters," Wood said.
Cooper said he believes the debate would give students a unique opportunity to ask questions of the candidates, and for the candidates to directly relate to the students.
The ultimate aim would be to get more students to turn out at the polls in November, Cooper said.
Twiford expressed similar sentiments, stating that it is important for both in-state and out-of-state students to educate themselves on these candidates "because what [these politicians] do for this area will impact the University"
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