Bush Seeks to Delay Debate by Candidates

Vice President George Bush has asked the producer of public television’s “Firing Line” program to delay a planned Oct. 28 debate among the GOP presidential candidates, his campaign manager said Thursday.

“It’s just literally impossible for us. We’re not available that day,” said Lee Atwater, who is managing Bush’s still-unannounced campaign for the presidency.

Atwater said the conflict involves “the vice president’s announcement schedule. I can’t get real specific because I don’t want to reveal everything we’re doing for his announcement.”

William F. Buckley is the program’s host. There was a live debate on “Firing Line” among six Democratic presidential hopefuls on July 1 in Houston. The Republican field was first scheduled to appear on the program last month in a debate in Los Angeles. The date was changed to Sept. 2 and then to Oct. 28.

Dole Requested Date

Atwater said the October date was picked at the request of another candidate, Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.), and Bush was told after all the other candidates had approved the new date.

“We’re not asking for special consideration, but we are asking for equal consideration . . . “ Atwater said. “The vice president is anxious to participate . . . . We simply want the same kind of courtesy shown to Sen. Dole.”

The Bush campaign has suggested Nov. 18 or Nov. 25 and is open to discussing other dates if those are unworkable, Atwater said.

However, “Firing Line” producer Warren Steibel said he doubts the debate can be changed. He said that all of the other candidates are “prepared, ready, signed up for Oct. 28 . . . . It doesn’t look promising. I do think we have to see if it’s possible. But I think the other candidates are the key to it.”

Lists Commitments

Steibel said he has commitments from Rep. Jack Kemp of New York, former Delaware Gov. Pierre S. (Pete) du Pont IV, former Sen. Paul Laxalt of Nevada, the Rev. Pat Robertson and former Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. to appear the day Dole is available.

He said he did not initially contact the Bush campaign because he did not know Bush was interested in appearing. When he notified Bush workers, he said, they told him Oct. 28 was not a good date.

“They didn’t give a reason. I felt they thought it was too early,” Steibel said, adding that Bush operatives had told him more than once that their strategy is to delay the debate as long as possible.

Du Pont on Thursday accused Bush of “political horseplay” and said he was urging the other contenders to stand firm on the Oct. 28 date.