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October 3rd, 2004:
Presidential debate scheduled at the University of Texas, Thursday Oct 7, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Patrick Dixon, LPT State Chair: 512-771-3936 chair@lptexas.org
Wes Benedict, LPT Executive Director: 512-442-4910 wesliberty@aol.com
Kris Overstreet, LPT Media Coordinator, 936-685-4992 cell 936-425-6523
redneck@wlpcomics.com
While the George Bush and John Kerry campaigns are barely noticeable in
Texas, the race for the highest office in the land will be focused on the
state capital this week.
The registered campus organizations of the Libertarian and Green parties at
the University of Texas have sponsored a debate between presidential
candidates Michael Badnarik of the Libertarian Party and David Cobb of the
Green Party. Ralph Nader (independent/Reform Party), Michael Peroutka
(Constitution Party), John Kerry (Democratic Party), and George W. Bush
(Republican Party) were also invited to attend. Nader and Peroutka have
both declined the invitation. No official word has been received from the
Kerry or Bush campaigns. The debate will be held on the west mall of the
University of Texas at Austin campus on Thursday Nov 7 at 11:30 AM. Ben
Philpot of KUT radio will be the moderator.
Badnarik is a resident Austin and was chosen as the Libertarian Party's
presidential nominee in a tightly contested convention on June 6. He will
appear on the ballot in Texas and a total of 48 states and the District of
Columbia (1).
Cobb is a native of the Houston area and was chosen as the Green Party's
nominee. The Green party has qualified for ballots in 28 states, but will
not appear on the Texas ballot (1).
"We are actively campaigning in Texas," said Libertarian Party of Texas
chairman Patrick Dixon.
"The chairman of the Democratic Party [Charles Soechting] of Texas has told
his members not to support the Kerry campaign (2,3) and Michael Badnarik is
glad to make Texas a 2 horse race pitting our Seabiscuit against the War
Admiral.
"Michael Badnarik is a Texan and has his campaign headquarters in Austin.
He has actively campaigned in Texas, including a fundraising event with
musician Jimmie Vaughan and a recent fund raiser in Austin with over 200 in
attendance. Our presence on the ballot in Texas and the rest of the
country will have a profound effect on the outcome. An investment in the
Badnarik campaign may be the best way to defeat Bush."
A study conducted by the Hubert Humphrey Institute at the University of
Minnesota (4), polling by John Zogby (5), and several media articles (6-10)
all show the Libertarian Party can dramatically affect the outcome of the
presidential election.
Both Badnarik and Cobb will be available for press interviews in the
Chicano Culture Room on the fourth floor of the Texas Student Union between
12:45 PM and 1:30 PM. This room may also be used in case of rain for the
debate.
1.) Ballot Access News, www.ballot-access.org
2.) Texas Democratic Party, Aug 8, 2004
3.) Associated Press, Aug 10, 2004 "Top Texas Democrat Seeks Party's Funds"
4.) Lawrence R Jacobs, Hubert H Humphrey Center for the Study of Politics
5.) Zogby International "The New Spoiler" - Libertarian candidate could hurt Bush
6.) CBS News "Bush's Third Party Threat"
7.) Los Angeles Times "Libertarian Badnarik May Cost Bush Support, Poll Finds"
8.) Christian Science Monitor "Third Party Threat; It's not just Nader"
9.) CNS News.com "Libertarian Party Says It Will Drain Votes From Bush"
10.) Washington Times, "Third Parties Making Life Difficult for Bush, Kerry" July 6, 2004
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