Planned Climate Debate a No-Go Now [View All]

[Hissyspit]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Planned climate debate a no-go now

McCain says a lack of participation from other candidates has scuttled Schwarzenegger's forum in N.H. The governor is still trying to make it happen, an aide says.
By Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 9, 2007
NASHUA, N.H. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's vision of convening a global-warming forum among presidential candidates before next month's primary apparently has fallen apart, Sen. John McCain and others said Saturday. The concept gained attention after McCain, a Republican contender, revealed at a campaign stop last month in California that Schwarzenegger had invited him to participate. A proponent of taking steps to reverse climate change, the Arizona senator was quick to accept. He has sought to differentiate himself on the issue from other Republican contenders.

But McCain said the event, once tentatively set for this month, evidently won't happen, at least not by New Hampshire's Jan. 8 primary.

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Mendelsohn added that although McCain's involvement would be important, Schwarzenegger believed that "to have a worthwhile debate about energy policy, all of the significant candidates should be there." The goal, Mendelsohn said, is to "see where candidates -- both Democratic and Republican -- come down on energy and climate change." "We are still trying to determine how to make this happen," he said.

Among the Republican candidates, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney probably would not attend because of previous commitments, said his communications director, Matt Rhoads. A spokesman for former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson said no decision had been made about his participation; aides to former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani did not respond to inquiries.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-global9dec09,1,2948093.story?coll=la-politics-campaign