Cahill backs out

On Halloween at the Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly Candidates Forum, Dan Kontoff brought up that Cahill refused to debate. Cahill, on the spot, agreed to debate and gave Dan his home and office contact info. We were shocked. This was after our attempts to contact his campaign, which is not an easy undertaking when all they have is a web form and the email address listed on his web site bounces. My campaign doesn't have as much cash as Cahill, but at least we have a phone and email that works.

That night, I left a message at his home number wishing a happy Halloween -- my son had been trickertreating and I cared for my nine month old daughter while he was with my wife -- and asking him to call be about debating.

Next morning, Wednesday, I contacted the office number he gave (Treasurer's office #) and left a message. Someone from the campaign called me back and I suggested that it would be easier to have a media outlet to sponsor it if Cahill announced that he was willing to debate. That suggestion was passed back.

My campaign called media outlets noting that Cahill agreed to debate and asking if they would sponsor it. A few places considered it, but only Radio with a View at WMBR did so actively.

By Thursday, Radio with a View had agreed and suggested a few times. Cahill's rep. called told me that his campaign agreed to call the media folks we were pursuing and say he wanted to debate and would they sponsor it. I gave them the names and phone numbers of the other media we were contacting. I notified Cahill's rep. that the folks at Radio with a View wanted to know whether they were available either 10-10:30am or 11-11:30am on Sunday.

By Friday morning, I had found out that some of the other media outlets were too busy, and that Radio with a View was willing to host it at 11 am on Sunday. I notified Cahill's rep. that morning via phone and Cahill's web sites contact form about the firm date/time/location for the debate. After several hours without an answer, I called again.

I was notified that Cahill was "booked" Sunday and likely Monday. What a surprise. I guess democracy isn't high on his agenda.

On other news: Galvin debated Jill Stein for five minutes. Thus qualifying as the shortest debate in history.

Four more days to go.