Spring Break
Despite Clinton commitment, health forums slow to attract
Issue date: 12/6/07
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Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is one of three presidential candidates who have recently agreed to discuss their positions on health care with University President William Brody in a series of televised forums.
But a condensed primary schedule with front-loaded elections has made it more difficult to attract the leading candidates in both parties.
"We are making steady progress," Brody said.
Brody has already filmed discussions with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, a Democrat.
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.), Clinton and Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) have agreed to participate in the forums but have not set a specific date for the filming of these discussions.
"Obviously we'd like to be further along," said Michael Field, an assistant to Brody who has been involved in the forum planning process.
None of the recorded sessions have been broadcast. While there is no airdate announced, "the target is two weeks from now," Field said. "Candidates have said yes, but then you still have to fight to get on their schedule," he said. "It's a political season unlike any other political season and campaigns are freaking out."
According to Field, recent plans to tape the discussion with Clinton will need to be rescheduled. Brody would have flown out to film in Iowa, where the senator was campaigning.
"The contact in her office said 'I already have 100 events lined up.' You wouldn't think there were 100 places to go in Iowa," Field joked. With several presidential candidates still not signed on for the forums, coordinators are "going back to other candidates and prodding to get a response," Field said.
Discussions were originally to be held only with the top-polling candidates for president before invitations to participate were extended to all of them.
Now the scope of the forum has expanded further, and will include "some national figures who are not candidates," Brody said.
But a condensed primary schedule with front-loaded elections has made it more difficult to attract the leading candidates in both parties.
"We are making steady progress," Brody said.
Brody has already filmed discussions with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, a Democrat.
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.), Clinton and Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) have agreed to participate in the forums but have not set a specific date for the filming of these discussions.
"Obviously we'd like to be further along," said Michael Field, an assistant to Brody who has been involved in the forum planning process.
None of the recorded sessions have been broadcast. While there is no airdate announced, "the target is two weeks from now," Field said. "Candidates have said yes, but then you still have to fight to get on their schedule," he said. "It's a political season unlike any other political season and campaigns are freaking out."
According to Field, recent plans to tape the discussion with Clinton will need to be rescheduled. Brody would have flown out to film in Iowa, where the senator was campaigning.
"The contact in her office said 'I already have 100 events lined up.' You wouldn't think there were 100 places to go in Iowa," Field joked. With several presidential candidates still not signed on for the forums, coordinators are "going back to other candidates and prodding to get a response," Field said.
Discussions were originally to be held only with the top-polling candidates for president before invitations to participate were extended to all of them.
Now the scope of the forum has expanded further, and will include "some national figures who are not candidates," Brody said.
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