Ehrlich, O’Malley to tape debate for Baltimore TV

No word on format or whether the rest of the state can tune in

Friday, Oct. 6, 2006

by Sean R. Sedam

Staff Writer

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley have decided to go to the videotape for a televised debate.

Voters will be able to see the gubernatorial candidates square off on WJZ TV, the CBS affiliate in Baltimore, in an hour-long debate that will be taped at noon Oct. 14 but will not air until 7 p.m. Oct. 16.

‘‘It’s live-to-tape,” said Liz Chuday, a spokeswoman for the station. ‘‘There will be no editing.”

No other details have been worked out including who would moderate, whether an audience or reporters would be invited or whether the debate would be made available for broadcast statewide.

With a month until the election, the prospects of additional debates appear to be waning.

There are no other debates being discussed at this time, said Shareese N. DeLeaver, an Ehrlich (R) campaign spokeswoman.

A spokesman for the O’Malley (D) campaign did not return calls seeking comment.

O’Malley’s camp has proposed five debates between the gubernatorial candidates and two debates between lieutenant governor candidates Kristen Cox and Del. Anthony G. Brown (D-Dist. 25) of Mitchellville.

Ehrlich has said he wants debates, but has not specified the number. He has said that he would like to have all the debates wrapped up by mid-October.

‘‘That was the condition that we expressed in our first meeting on Sept. 1,” DeLeaver said. ‘‘We have also invited Martin O’Malley to participate in a number of radio debates.”

So far, the candidates have made a number of radio appearances in the Baltimore and Washington markets, but never together.

Ehrlich and O’Malley have appeared together to discuss the issues twice: at a disabilities forum in Baltimore and an AARP forum in Timonium. Both events were held in September and neither was televised.