Mark Lester, Democratic candidate for Congress in Alabama’s 6th Congressional District, sent out a press release Friday promoting a debate between him and his Republican opponent Gary Palmer. The only problem is, he may end up having a difficult time debating himself, considering he didn’t even tell Palmer the debate was taking place.
“You know how I found out? A member of my campaign team texted me his press release,” Palmer told Yellowhammer Friday afternoon. “There’s a campaign phone number on our website. It’s not like we’re difficult to get in touch with, but he never called any of us.”
And it’s not only the Lester campaign who’s promoting the debate. They also got ABC 33/40 to blast it out on Twitter as well.
6th Dist Cong candidates Mark Lester and Gary Palmer schedule debate on Oct. 7 @ the Junior League of Birmingham beginning @ 7p. #abc3340
— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) October 3, 2014
Palmer said he had committed to participate in another candidate forum on the date included in the Lester campaign’s press release, and the date tweeted out by ABC 33/40 — which is apparently different from the one in Lester’s press release — is the same night the Business Council of Alabama is hosting their annual dinner, which features former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as the keynote speaker. Palmer is committed to that event, too.
“It’s incredibly unprofessional that there was no real attempt to make contact,” Palmer said. “I’m sure they’re just trying to make it look like I’m ducking them. But every debate I’ve ever heard of or participated in was worked out well ahead of time by the campaigns. Obviously that didn’t happen here.”
Typically campaign managers huddle well in advance of a proposed debate to discuss everything from format and location to stage arrangements, panelists and moderators.
The Lester campaign did not immediately return Yellowhammer’s request for comment.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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