California recall: Circus-like atmosphere reinforced at debate

Wednesday’s “Super Bowl” recall candidate
debate drew mixed reactions from many members of its television
audience, but they were able to agree on a couple of key
points.

Point one: There were few surprises from the candidates, but
some of them were able to reinforce their positions in
voters’ minds.

Point two: The candidates did not do much to fight the
perception of the recall’s circus-like atmosphere.

Zingers, taunts and cheap shots filled the air for much of the
debate’s early period, as it marked the first time movie star
and Republican front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger engaged with the
other candidates in addressing the state’s pertinent
issues.

At one point, independent candidate Arianna Huffington
criticized Schwarzenegger about his alleged chauvinistic treatment
of women during his film career, to which he replied:

“I would just like to say that I have the perfect part for
you in “˜Terminator 4.'”

“The whole circus atmosphere lends itself to the kind of
Schwarzenegger and Huffington style of joking,” said David
Sears, a professor of political science, psychology and social
psychology.

But he added that these particular candidates needed to take the
debate more seriously.

Sears said Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, state Sen. Tom McClintock,
and financial adviser Peter Camejo came across as the most stern
and credible candidates. This statement differs from poll numbers
that show Camejo trailing substantially in the recall election.

Other scholars echoed similar sentiments about
Schwarzenegger’s performance at the debate as not being
reflective of his status in the election race.

“The guy who had the most to win or lose was
Arnold,” said Henry Brady, a professor of political science
at UC Berkeley.

“But he proved knowledgeable … (though) it looked at
times he was holding on for dear life,” he continued.

Brady added that Bustamante, the Democratic front-runner, and
McClintock, another viable Republican candidate, gave the best
performances at the debate.

However, both scholars did not agree on the effect the event
would have on voters, dubbed the “Super Bowl” of
debates by both Schwarzenegger and moderator Stan Statham of the
California Broadcasters Association.

Sears said the debate gave voters an accurate impression of the
candidates with which they can make their choice.

“If anybody paid attention for a hour and a half, they
would have been able to size up the people and get a clear vision
of their values,” he said.

Brady said he believed there is “always more to be
learned” about the candidates and expressed his distaste for
the fact that candidates were presented with debate questions
beforehand.

“I wish the questions were more of a surprise,” he
said. “Clearly Schwarzenegger was scripted. … It would have
been nice to hear what he’d say if he hadn’t known (the
questions).”

Sears downplayed the pre-scripted factor of the debate, saying
candidates were presented with the “obvious questions,”
and the event was not as rehearsed as many people expected.

“The format was the opposite of what was feared,” he
said. “It turned into chaos sometimes.”

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