CAMPAIGN WATCH : That Darn Schedule

Voters have grown used to public debates as a way of learning something about the candidates that goes beyond shrewd ad campaigns or even one-on-one interviews with journalists. Of course, debates can be dangerous ground for a candidate. They are unpredictable and can lead to mistakes that wipe away a lead overnight. But office seekers owe it to voters to debate whenever possible so their views and positions are well known before Election Day.

That holds true of George Bush, who finally agreed to three debates before Nov. 3. And it’s true of Democrat Barbara Boxer, who has enjoyed a substantial lead over Republican Bruce Herschensohn in the U.S. Senate race. Boxer has debated Herschensohn twice, with one to go. One previous debate was shown on C-SPAN, and the coming one might be. But what would have been the major confrontation between these candidates--a debate proposed for Saturday by the California Broadcasters Assn.--was declined by Boxer. That’s a big loss for voters.

It’s notable that Herschensohn once proposed that senatorial candidates engage in 50 or 60 debates. That’s overkill, of course, but the spirit is not wrong. That’s why Boxer should have agreed to the broadcasters’ proposal for a debate that would been televised statewide. In refusing, Boxer said she had trouble with the format and, in the meantime, her schedule filled up. She should have tried harder.

The debate would have provided the best opportunity for a side-by-side test of the two candidates. Boxer should have stepped into that arena.