Choices, not echoes, in shadow of GOP convention

Badnarik and Cobb to hold presidential debate in NYC which will be open to the public. Bush, Kerry, Peroutka and Nader are invited to attend, as well.

New York (PRWEB) August 30, 2004 -- The first multi-party presidential debate of the 2004 election cycle comes to New York on August 31st.

Representatives of Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate, and Green Party candidate David Cobb, have confirmed that they will participate in the event, scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, 502 West 41st Street.

Other presidential candidates, including President Bush, Democratic challenger John Kerry, Constitution Party candidate Michael Peroutka and Independent Ralph Nader have been invited to participate as well. The debate will be moderated by Walt Kane of News 12 New Jersey and Robert Richie of the Center for Voting and Democracy.

"President Bush and Senator Kerry have been involved in 'sensitive negotiations' over debates for some time," says Badnarik, 50, of Austin, Texas. "But it isn't rocket science. We've secured a location, moderators, and a format that gives every candidate a chance to address the issues. If Bush and Kerry want a debate, they've got one. If they don't -- well, that's a statement in and of itself."

The debate, which will be preceded by an all-candidate press conference, allows each candidate a five minute opening statement, a three minute closing statement, and two minutes to answer questions posed by the moderators and the audience. The debate will be open to the public, without "set-asides" for the campaigns. "In other words," says Badnarik's communications director, Stephen Gordon, "the real public, not the fan club, will have a chance to grill the candidates."

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