Curb Scraps Plans to Debate With McCarthy

In an unusual twist for a challenger, Republican Mike Curb on Thursday backed out of a proposed series of debates with Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, citing the incumbent Democrat’s “dirty” campaign tactics.

The declaration was made in a letter to McCarthy by Curb campaign manager Bill Roberts, who accused him of dredging up “dirty lies from 20 years ago” and using “filthy and mean personal attacks” against Curb.

Roberts said Curb, who served a sometimes-turbulent term as lieutenant governor from 1978 to 1982, would consider debating only if McCarthy changed his campaign tactics.

Curb thus follows the lead set by the candidate at the top of the Republican ticket, Gov. George Deukmejian, who has said he will not debate his Democratic opponent, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, because of the mayor’s campaign attacks.

Public Forum

McCarthy, who has accused Curb of “hiding” from him, said the letter and claims of dirty campaigning constituted a weak effort by Curb to back out of the debates because he was afraid of embarrassing himself in a public forum.

McCarthy, noting that it was Curb who first offered to debate, said the letter carried the tone of “manufactured anger.”

The lieutenant governor added, “They are seizing on any excuse to renege on Curb’s offer to debate. . . . I think what it comes down to is his handlers will not trust him in public.”

He said Curb also “hid” from his opponent in the GOP primary, state Sen. H.L. Richardson of Glendora, and then won by spending $1.2 million, most of it on TV advertising.

“He thinks he can speak to the voters of California through $3-million worth of 30-second television spots,” McCarthy said.

Shortly after Curb offered the debate challenge, McCarthy said he would debate Curb anywhere, anytime. The two camps then haggled back and forth, exchanging a series of press releases and letters, each accusing the other of dragging its feet.

The opposing factions met for the first time last week to discuss ground rules and had agreed to meet again in two weeks.

So far, 14 news organizations and debate forums have offered to host debates for the candidates, including the California League of Women Voters and Town Hall of California. McCarthy has accepted all 14.

Four Years

McCarthy claims that Curb does not want to debate because he “does not want to be held accountable for four years of wasted time as lieutenant governor.”

Roberts’ assertion that McCarthy reached back 20 years for “lies” apparently alluded to earlier claims by the Democratic incumbent that Curb had been late in registering for the military draft. McCarthy subsequently acknowledged that he was in error but refused to apologize.