GUERILLA POLITICS:

Forrester, Lautenberg stage impromptu debate at street fair (WAYNE PARRY, October 19, 2002, Associated Press)

Dragging two wooden podiums into an intersection at a street fair Saturday, Republican Senate candidate Douglas Forrester challenged Democratic rival Frank Lautenberg to make good on his "any place, any time" debate pledge.

The three-term former senator complied in a 10- to 15-minute exchange during which Forrester criticized his opponent's voting record and Lautenberg focused on issues such as abortion rights and gun control. [...]

Forrester has proposed more than 20 debates around the state, but Lautenberg, who retired two years ago, has agreed to just one televised joint appearance, three days before the Nov. 5 election. Tom Shea, Lautenberg's campaign manager, said the Democrat will agree to at least one other televised debate.

This is brilliant. But Forrester has to keep it up, because making Lautenberg's unwillingness to debate into the key issue of the campaign allows you to bring his age and competence into the mix too. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 20, 2002 6:14 AM