GOP Primary Race Turns Negative

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(Host) The race for the Republican nomination for Secretary of State is barely ten days old and the candidates are already accusing each other of negative campaigning.

VPR’s Bob Kinzel takes a look at how the controversy developed in one of Vermont’s normally quiet statewide races.

(Kinzel) In the spring of 2009, Williston attorney Chris Roy announced his candidacy, and for almost a year he was the only GOP candidate.

In the past few months he’s racked up some major out of state endorsements including: Arizona senator John McCain, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty.

Then in the middle of May, Jason Gibbs entered the race.  Gibbs served as Governor Douglas’s press secretary for 6 years and most recently was Forest and Parks Commissioner.

Roy immediately challenged Gibbs to debate every week before the August 24th Primary.  Roy described himself as the "outsider" of the race and he said Gibbs was the typical "insider":

(Roy) "I’m not saying they’re bad people or whatever but I think in the interests of getting some diverse viewpoints and some diverse approaches to solving the myriad problems that we have in this state I think that my perspective especially given the varied functions of this office would be particularly valuable." 

(Kinzel) Gibbs says he’s willing to debate but not every week and he thinks Roy is trying to use the question of debates as a campaign issue:

(Gibbs) "… Despite the fact that my primary opponent has not referred a single date, time or invitation for a debate to us. So I find his overture a little bit more than contrived."

(Kinzel) Then Roy accused Gibbs of not being truthful. Roy claims that while Gibbs was expressing an interest in debates, Gibbs was also belittling the concept on his Facebook site:

(Roy) "It was that he was as quick as he was to say the exact opposite thing depending upon what his audience was. And that was very disappointing because I do think the Secretary of State’s office is one – more than perhaps any other – that needs to focus on open government – you know, transparent government."

(Kinzel) That characterization didn’t sit well with Gibbs:

(Gibbs) "My primary opponent has decided to run a decidedly negative campaign and continue to mischaracterize my communications, my statements, my experience, my knowledge, my expertise. But that’s not the kind of campaign that I’m going to run – I’m going to run a positive campaign."

(Kinzel) Gibbs says he’s willing to schedule as many debates as his schedule will allow providing that the events are sponsored by the media.

For VPR News, I’m Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.

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