Let’s just come out and say it, shall we? It is increasingly what everyone is thinking.
According to reports, the Dubie camp only agreed to a measly five debates with Democratic Challenger Matt Dunne and Progressive Marvin Malek. Last week, he bailed on the first one. Philip at the time chalked it up to downright imperious arrogance:
The news: Brian Dubie has apparently blown off the first major debate he’s agreed to this campaign cycle, an event organized and staged by the League of Women Voters.
The analysis: This guy honestly believes he doesn’t have to campaign. Why? Because it’s good to be king.
But today brings this news from Freyne:
Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie has canceled yet another debate against his Democrat challenger Matt Dunne and Progressive Marvin Malek. This one was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. next Sunday October 22 at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common.
There’s no longer any avoiding the obvious – that Dubie is afraid.
Everyone knows he’s a lightweight who only squeaked into the office thanks to Anthony Pollina’s determination to split the left even though it was obvious to everyone that he had no chance of winning. Then last time, he exploited his incumbency in much the same way, but stuck his head out a bit more often as he knew he was facing, in Cheryl Rivers, a not-very-strong opponent.
This year he’s up against a far greater threat. Dunne is good on the stump, quick on his (verbal) feet, and has a strong field operation. He also has a good grasp of the issues, and therefore brings a significant policy toolbox with him to any debate.
But of course, Dubie is a lightweight. And this slinking in the shadows campaign of “if I just close my eyes it will all be over soon” just shows that he knows it as well as anyone. By hiding under his airplane, Dubie avoids having not only to answer questions about why he won’t release his personal finances, his out-of-the-mainstream views on abortion rights, and his tendency not to show up for the nice-paying part-time job the taxpayers have elected him to – he also avoids being in a position that allows the public to see just how little he understands about policy and far over his head he is in the Statehouse.
Still, if he had any kahunas at all, he’d stand up straight, meet his opponents in debate, and make his case for re-election. But don’t hold your breath waiting for that.
Because he is simply a coward.