Runner-Up Beats Zschau as Far as Cranston Debate

Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston balks at televised debates with the winner of the Republican senatorial primary. But Tuesday night, Cranston cheerfully went on the air to debate the Republican runner-up.

It was Cranston and Bruce Herschensohn face to face on an elongated segment of KABC-TV’s evening news commentary.

And for much of the 10-minute broadcast, one might have believed that the June primary never occurred. Second-place-finisher Herschensohn lashed Cranston for his liberal foreign policy stand.

Only the presence of Cranston’s one-time Senate colleague, Democratic commentator John Tunney, served as a reminder that this was not a campaign battle. As might be expected, however, Tunney struggled to get a word in edgewise or any other wise.

“This is not a debate,” Tunney objected.

“Yes it is,” Herschensohn countered.

And from across town came word from the man who wasn’t there: Cranston’s general election opponent, Rep. Ed Zschau of Los Altos.

“They have debated the loser, now we wish they’d debate the winner,” Zschau press secretary Jim LeMunyon said.

Cranston has declined to agree to a one-on-one debate with Zschau. The senator demands inclusion of minor party candidates for the office. He says even if they get only a small fraction of the November vote, minority party nominees could be decisive in a close race and therefore should be heard.

Zschau says he wants Cranston to agree to a face-to-face debate before there is any talk of an event with minor party nominees.

Debate over debating notwithstanding, Cranston was not the least hesitant Tuesday night to pick on his absent opponent whenever he had a chance.

As he has in the past, Cranston said Zschau has run up an inconsistent voting record in the House of Representatives.

“I defy the people to say where he stands,” Cranston said.

Kept After Him

Herschensohn did not come to Zschau’s defense directly. But he kept after Cranston.

“My problem is I do know where you stand. And I disagree with you,” Herschensohn said.

Tunney was a contender for the political Cy Young award for pitching softballs to his friend Cranston: What’s your stand on toxic waste? What’s your stand on education?

Not unexpectedly Cranston was against the first but for the second.

Herschensohn threw his hand to his forehead and groaned, “Oh, John. Oh, John.”

Herschensohn promised to take the mound and pitch them slow and easy when Zschau appears on the program at a later date.