Sanford OKs with Moore

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Mark Sanford's campaign on Wednesday said it has accepted three debate date proposals from broadcasters to meet Democratic challenger state Sen. Tommy Moore.

The two campaigns have never talked directly or indirectly about any debate dates, said Jason Miller, the Republican governor's campaign manager.

"We hadn't heard anything from Tommy Moore's campaign and we took the initiative to accept several of the debate invitations," Miller said.

Sanford has accepted invitations for televised debates on Oct. 25, Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.

Moore has accepted the Oct. 30 South Carolina ETV statewide televised debate and is considering the others.

The Clearwater legislator wants more debates and says there are numerous other requests for debates and forums for the public to see the candidates engage each other and the issues.

"I welcome the opportunity to debate the issues anytime," Moore said. "Tomorrow would be a good day for me." But he said he finds "it very disingenuous to send out a press release congratulating themselves for accepting only three debate dates," Moore said.

Miller said Sanford hasn't ruled out other debates. "Right now, those are the three we are planning on," Miller said.

In 2002, then-Gov. Jim Hodges, a Democrat, pestered Sanford for a debate immediately after the June primary runoff. Sanford initially declined, but later asked for multiple debates with formats that didn't confine his responses to sound bites.

The issue was touchy enough that the pair had something of a debate summit in August. Sanford arrived 15 minutes late, leaving Hodges simmering, but joking with reporters. No deal was reached and they agreed to let the South Carolina Broadcasters Association come up with dates. They ultimately agreed to nine debates.

The three debates Sanford has agreed to are far more than he gave his GOP primary opponent. During the primary, Miller and Sanford refused to utter Oscar Lovelace's name publicly and never agreed to a debate with the Prosperity doctor.

Moore could use the exposure debates bring, including a statewide ETV audience on Oct. 30.

Moore lags Sanford in campaign cash. He said he finished August raising between $800,000 and $1 million. "I don't know the final numbers. We are still tallying outstanding commitments and deposits," he said.

Sanford is way ahead of that with $4.5 million on hand at the end of June. He has been running television ads since the primary. Miller said Wednesday a new ad has begun airing this week and more are on the way.

South Carolina ETV is handling statewide airing for the eight contested statewide races and for congressional races.

ETV has debate commitments from Republican and Democratic candidates in the races for governor, lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner and comptroller general, ETV spokeswoman Catherine Christman said.

But the network is waiting for candidate commitments in the education superintendent, treasurer, adjutant general and secretary of state races, Christman said.

State Treasurer Grady Patterson, a Democrat, has said he will not debate Republican Thomas Ravenel in that contest because Ravenel has not committed to serving a full four-year term.

While Patterson won't appear on television with Ravenel, he hasn't ruled out a radio debate, Trav Robertson, Patterson's campaign manager, said.