You know, when you're trailing by 25+ points against your opponent, when you have just a tiny fraction of the money your opponent has, where everyone already knows where both candidates stand on the issues, when your opponent is the most popular political figure in the state and when you basically aren't a viable candidate, it's not uncommon for the other candidate to think it's a waste of time debating you.
Back in April 2008, that was pretty much Jim Gilmore's position against Bob Marshall:
"We're past the point of debate,'' said Ana M. Gamonal, Gilmore's spokeswoman.Gamonal said Gilmore's schedule is packed between now and next month's convention when delegates from across the state will choose a nominee.
But, she said, Gilmore and Marshall have already appeared together many times including the recent shad planking in Wakefield.
"Delegates already know where Gov. Gilmore stands on the issues,'' she said.
Actually, Gilmore's refusal to debate goes back to 1997, when the Washington Post reported:
James S. Gilmore III has backed out of an Oct. 21 debate with Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr. in the race for Virginia governor, the second time the Republican has declined a face-to-face appearance with his rival before the state's capitol correspondents.[...]
[Journalist association president Mike] Gooding, who had been negotiating the debate for three months, said he was "just stunned" by Gilmore's pullout. Gilmore also declined an invitation to appear with Beyer before reporters last February.
"I can't believe Jim Gilmore does not want to come to Hampton Roads and debate before the people of this community and that he would turn his back on the capitol press corps," Gooding said.
To summarize: Jim Gilmore refused to debate Don Beyer in 1997 and Bob Marshall in 2008. Now, though, he's whining because future Senator Mark Warner doesn't want to waste any more time with Gilmore, having already debated him once. According to Gilmore, "the people of Virginia have a right to see and hear candidates for public office discuss the issues."
Yeah, well that's great, but it might have just the tiniest bit of credibility if Gilmore hadn't dodged debates with Bob Marshall (who came within a whisker of beating Gilmore) and Don Beyer. Of course, this IS the same guy who claims he didn't drive Virginia into a financial ditch, and that Mark Warner didn't save our AAA bond rating from Gilmore's incompetence. So what else would you expect?
By the way, here is what one Republican blog had to say about Gilmore's decision in May 2008 not to debate Bob Marshall:
Some things are so sad and so typical. Jim Gilmore will not debate Bob Marshall, but at the very end of the campaign he deigns to notice him with a negative campaign mailer.
That's one thing we can count on, negative campaign mailers from Jim Gilmore against Mark Warner. That is, if he has enough money to afford any. And if anyone cares.