Spring Break
Republican presidential hopefuls gather in Baltimore for debate on minority issues
GOP front-runners assailed for not showing up
Issue date: 9/27/07
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Six of the ten Republican presidential candidates came to Baltimore Thursday night to stress the importance of reaching out to black voters, while assailing the leading four contenders for not showing up.
"I apologize for those that aren't here" said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. "I don't think its good for our party and not good for our country ... What they're doing is narrowing our base."
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo took the attacks even further.
"The last time I was at an event of this nature it was at a NAACP convention, and I was the only Republican who showed up," he said.
The four missing Republicans - former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, and Arizona Sen. John McCain - lead most state and national primary polls and have the most cash in the race.
Each cited scheduling conflicts as their reasons for missing the debate, but many in attendance said the candidates were either too afraid of black voters or unable to get their votes. Their podiums were left noticeably empty on the stage.
The debate, held at historically black Morgan State University and moderated by Travis Smiley of PBS, was geared toward addressing issues of importance to black Americans. A similar debate was held for the Democratic candidates - where all the front-runners were present - in June.
Other than Brownback and Tancredo, the candidates who did take their podiums were Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, and former Amb. Alan Keyes.
All of the candidates at the debate currently poll in single digits, if not in decimals, in most state and national surveys. Despite their low standing in polls, each was able to command the stage at Morgan State.
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who was narrowly defeated in his 2006 campaign for Senate by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), serves as the chairman of GOPAC, which co-sponsored the debate. He also showed disappointment with the front-runners.
"I apologize for those that aren't here" said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. "I don't think its good for our party and not good for our country ... What they're doing is narrowing our base."
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo took the attacks even further.
"The last time I was at an event of this nature it was at a NAACP convention, and I was the only Republican who showed up," he said.
The four missing Republicans - former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, and Arizona Sen. John McCain - lead most state and national primary polls and have the most cash in the race.
Each cited scheduling conflicts as their reasons for missing the debate, but many in attendance said the candidates were either too afraid of black voters or unable to get their votes. Their podiums were left noticeably empty on the stage.
The debate, held at historically black Morgan State University and moderated by Travis Smiley of PBS, was geared toward addressing issues of importance to black Americans. A similar debate was held for the Democratic candidates - where all the front-runners were present - in June.
Other than Brownback and Tancredo, the candidates who did take their podiums were Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, and former Amb. Alan Keyes.
All of the candidates at the debate currently poll in single digits, if not in decimals, in most state and national surveys. Despite their low standing in polls, each was able to command the stage at Morgan State.
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who was narrowly defeated in his 2006 campaign for Senate by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), serves as the chairman of GOPAC, which co-sponsored the debate. He also showed disappointment with the front-runners.
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