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SEPTEMBER 15, 2000

Ending weeks of dispute and speculation over the issue, Presidential candidates Al Gore and George Bush have finally agreed to debate one another in three prime-time televised events.

Beginning next month, the pair will do in person what they've been doing so far in advertisements, speeches, and various campaign appearances. Convince the American public he is the is the right person for the job.

But they won't be doing any convincing in a forum designed to address issues facing Indian Country today. An offer by the National Indian Gaming Association to host the two in a debate before tribal leaders has so far been turned down.

The non-profit organization of tribes went so far as to place an advertisement in USA Today seeking the two for a televised event that would have taken place in Arizona.

The two have met face-to-face with tribal leaders, however. Their most significant meetings have both occurred in New Mexico, where Gore appeared to emerge victorious, at least among the state's 19 Pueblos, who endorsed the Democratic candidate over his GOP mate.

And don't bet on the appearance of third party candidates like Green Party's Ralph Nader and Reform Party's Pat Buchanan. Unless either candidate receives an average of 15 percent of the share in five upcoming national polls, they won't be allowed into the debates.

So far, both candidates have been hovering below the 10 percent mark in various polls.

The three debates sanctioned by the Commission on Presidential Debates will kick off in Boston, Massachusetts at the campus of the University of Massachusetts. The Bush campaign had expressed concerns about the location, due to its proximity to the John F. Kennedy Presidential library.

But the campaign appears to have backed down on the issue, and others, surrounding the debates. Bush had been challenging Gore to appear in non-sanctioned forums, including an appearance on "Larry King Live" on CNN, while Gore had been pressing Bush to agree to the sanctioned ones.

The non-profit, non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates has sponsored the election debates in the years 1998, 1992, and 1996. In addition to the three Presidential debates, a Vice-Presidential debate will be held October 5 at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

Each event will be broadcast on a national television network and will run 90 minutes.

Relevant Links:
The Commission on Presidential Debates - www.debates.org
The National Indian Gaming Association - www.indiangaming.org

Related Stories:
Pueblos endorse Gore, others (The Talking Circle 09/01)
Bush meets with Navajo Nation (The Talking Circle 09/01)
Candidates hit the road (The Talking Circle 08/30)