ZIMMER & KEAN CALL ON

LAUTENBERG TO DEBATE IN JUNE

-- Kean, Menendez campaign set precedent of early debates in 06’ race --

Trenton, NJ – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer was joined today by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. at a Statehouse press conference. Zimmer and Kean called on Senator Frank Lautenberg to begin debating this month just as Kean did with Senator Bob Menendez in 2006.

“It has been over a week since I invited Senator Lautenberg to begin a series of debates starting this month,” said GOP U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer. “If Sen. Lautenberg truly believes as his spokesperson said last week that, “debates are an integral part of any campaign,” then he will agree to meet this month in a televised debate,” said Zimmer.

“Two years ago, Senator Menendez and I agreed to debate twice in the month of June,” said Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Jr. “The people of New Jersey deserve no less from Senator Lautenberg this year. If Senator Menendez can do it, so can Senator Lautenberg.”

The Zimmer campaign has reached out to the news outlets that sponsored the June Senate debates two years ago to request that they do so again this year.

“I will debate Frank Lautenberg any time during the course of this campaign and believe the more voters hear us express our ideas, the better a decision they can make in the voting booth,” said Zimmer.

The Zimmer campaign agrees with news organizations around New Jersey that are calling for debates:

“…[T]hey should start a series of joint debates and town hall meetings across New Jersey. …We challenge both candidates to hold at least two joint events – debates or town hall meetings – every month between now and November.” (The Record, Editorial, 6/8/2008)

“…[D]ebates provide important insight into how they interact with people with whom they may disagree, how well they can articulate and defend their positions and how willing they are to give direct answers to tough or controversial questions. Zimmer and Lautenberg should participate in at least a half dozen televised debates this summer and fall.” (The Asbury Park Press, Editorial, 6/5/2008)

“Voters should insist that both candidates make themselves far more accessible in the general election campaign. Zimmer has urged Lautenberg to participate in two debates this month and more as the campaign progresses. On Wednesday, Lautenberg rejected a debate next week.” (The Asbury Park Press, Editorial, 6/5/2008)

This morning the Zimmer campaign sent the following letter to the Lautenberg campaign:

June 12, 2008

Mr. Steve DeMicco

Lautenberg for Senate

One Gateway Center

Suite 302

Newark, NJ 07102

Dear Steve,

Congratulations on your victory on June 3.

Two years ago, you helped Senator Bob Menendez and State Senator Tom Kean agree to a series of debates starting in June. The Zimmer campaign believes that you helped set an important precedent in 2006. We also believe your current campaign to reelect Senator Lautenberg should abide by that precedent.

You may recall writing the following to Tom Kean’s campaign back then. I took the liberty of updating your words:

"We want to emphasize, however, that an on-line forum is no substitute for live, televised, real-time debates between the two major party candidates. And in that spirit, given the urgency of the issues and the magnitude of the choice in this campaign, we issue a challenge today for Frank Lautenberg Tom Kean, Jr., should he become his party's nominee, to meet Dick Zimmer Senator Menendez in a one-hour debate before a statewide television audience, and to do so before the end of June. Given its experience in conducting debates in every major recent statewide election, we would suggest that New Jersey Network serve as lead sponsor of this debate.

"The Zimmer Menendez campaign believes that debates are a critical tool for voters to use in comparing the candidates. Campaign debates and forums should be sponsored by television, radio and newspaper organizations that command a statewide audience. They should offer various formats. And they should encourage citizen participation at the same time that they invite informed and probing questions from journalists."

The Zimmer campaign enthusiastically accepts your challenge and hopes that your client Sen. Lautenberg will agree to it as well. Both campaigns should sit down as soon as possible to discuss these principles and other ideas, such as joint town-hall meetings, for elevating the campaign dialogue.

In the meantime, we hope Senator Lautenberg accepts one of the many invitations already extended to him and Dick Zimmer to begin debating the important issues facing our state and nation before the end of June.

Sincerely,

Mark Duffy

Campaign Manager

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