NEWS

FOR RELEASE: On Receipt

April 14, 2008

Says Race ‘Still Too Close to Call’

MARSHALL: GILMORE’S ‘NO’ TO DEBATES LEAVES DELEGATES ‘IN THE DARK’

Del. Bob Marshall (R., Manassas) said Monday (April 14) that Jim Gilmore’s refusal to debate is leaving delegates to next month’s Republican State Convention “virtually in the dark” on important issues before they select a nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Marshall and Gilmore are vying for the nomination. On Friday, Marshall proposed that Gilmore and he, along with a third candidate, meet in a series of debates before the May 30-31 nominating convention at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The Washington Times has offered to host the first debate.

“Jim Gilmore, by refusing to engage in debates, is disappointing a great many Republicans who’ll be delegates at the party’s nominating convention next month,” Marshall said.

“Jim’s unwillingness to discuss the issues in a debate format denies delegates the opportunity to gauge us under fire. Without debates, how will they know which of us is better able to take a winning fight to Mark Warner in November? They’ll be left virtually in the dark.”

Marshall scoffed at a news report that Gilmore will not debate because he believes he is ahead in the delegate count. About a third of the delegates have yet to be elected.

“If he’s ahead,” Marshall said, “he should have no fear of debating the issues – if, of course, he’s ahead. We know he’s not. Nobody knows what the final delegate count will be, and we might not know until the convention. What we do know for sure right now is that this race still is too close to call.”

Marshall noted that Gilmore and he have appeared jointly at mass meetings and other GOP events, but that they only were permitted to make speeches. The two were not questioned jointly on issues from those attending, he pointed out.

“Canned speeches, especially those written by someone else, really don’t provide a very good way to learn what separates us on where we stand on important issues.” Marshall said. “On the other hand, debates would do exactly that, and that most likely explains Jim’s reluctance.”

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NEWS CONTACT: Bill Kling, 804-580-4050 (phone), 804-761-4430 (cell), kling@usa.net

Marshall for Senate, Inc., Post Office Box 458, Manassas, Virginia 20108

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