Aronberg calls Gelber request for attorney general debates ‘political stunt’ but says yes…if
by Dara Kam | July 27th, 2010State Sen. Dave Aronberg agreed to his colleague Sen. Dan Gelber’s request for debates before the primary election…sort of.
Aronberg and Gelber are in a heated Democratic primary for attorney general, and Aronberg’s taken off the gloves and attacked his opponent for Gelber’s former law firm’s representation of BP.
Gelber says he resigned from Akerman Senterfitt, the state’s largest law firm that recently was retained by BP, days before Aronberg demanded it.
Gelber then sent Aronberg a letter asking for 11 debates before the Aug. 24 primary.
Aronberg responded today calling a request for that many debates – nearly three a week – a “political stunt” and dragging BP into the debate arena.
“The next Attorney General will probably spend the better part of this decade involved in litigation of the state versus BP, Halliburton and other parties who might share liability for this disaster. Therefore, as we work together to agree on our debate schedule, I want to insist that at least one of the debates be held there so the citizens of that region can hear our plans for fighting for them as their Attorney General,” Aronberg wrote in a letter to Gelber.
Aronberg also agreed to a debate outside of South Florida, home to both Democrats, in Tampa Bay or Orlando.
Tags: 2010 campaigns, 2010 elections, attorney general, BP, Dan Gelber, Dave Aronberg, Deepwater Horizon, Democrats, offshore drilling, oil spill
July 27th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Of course Desperate Dave Aronberg would want to limit how many debates there are…he loses – badly – to Gelber in head-to-head matchups every time. I’d hate to be in Dave’s position, being behind in cash-on-hand and with ethical questions swirling around his campaign. Not good, Dave.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
What a horrible headline. You “journalists” at the post are just absolutely atrocious.
July 27th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Gelber is less than 10k ahead of Dave in Cash on Hand, and that is after Dave spent about 230,000 on mail. Gelber has spent his money on brochures and travel. With less than 4 weeks til the election, I would say the cash on hand battle is pretty much moot. Now it’s “spend it like it’s going out of style” time, and Dave Aronberg is going to wipe the floor with Dan.
July 27th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
I have rarely seen a candidate with more liabilities than Dave Aronberg…paying off staffers from Federal slush funds, taking money from alleged felons, swallowing up huge checks from big business, oil executives, voting for school vouchers and insurance deregulation, the list goes on. Even the Post called Aronberg the most “anti-consumer” candidate running for AG. Dave won’t be wiping anything except his tears on August 24th, wait and see.
July 28th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Gelber is requesting eleven debates? For a primary? Are you kidding me? I don’t even think that the governor’s race or senate race have had that many so far. With the primary less than a month away, I’m not quite sure that that would be his best use of what funds he has left. One or two debates, at best, for a primary should be more than adequate. Don’t knock yourselves out and then leave the door open for Kottkamp, Bondi or (chuckle) Benson to get in.
July 28th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
The Democratic Party put up two very similar State Senators for the same position. Both men are widely respected.
Now they get to knock the crap out of each other and denegrate, where possible, the reputation of the other. Brilliant move.
In the interim, Jeff Atwater’s seat is getting no attention. Historically a Republican seat, no doubt, but not to run a viable candidate?
Dan and Dave; Stop the politicking. It hurts everyone.