"I wish I could give you a lot of advice, based on my experience of winning political debates. But I don't have that experience. My only experience is at losing them."
_ Richard M. Nixon
According to polling after Richard Nixon debated John F. Kennedy in 1960, a majority of listeners on radio said that Nixon had won.
However, most of those who watched the debate on the relatively new, burgeoning medium of television overwhelmingly said that Kennedy was the winner.
Nixon's 5 o'clock shadow and his propensity to perspire may or may not have lost him that extremely close 1960 election, but his saying he lost every debate wasn't close to the truth.
Nixon, after all, managed to win two presidential elections after debating the nominees from the other party.
Many political experts believe that it's extremely hard to win an election based on a performance in a debate, but it is very easy to lose one.
If for that reason alone, we urge local residents to attend the three debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters over the next week.
On Tuesday, Oneonta mayoral candidates Erik Miller, Richard Miller and Jason Corrigan will share their views. It will be the first time that all three will be together to face a media panel and also answer questions from the public.
It is an important event in that they are all relative newcomers to our area. Unlike current Mayor John Nader, none of the three candidates grew up here where longtime residents could get to know them over many years.
On the following Monday, candidates for the Oneonta Town Board will get their opportunity to reach the voters.
Incumbent town Supervisor Robert Wood, a Democrat, will debate Republican Tony Natalini. In addition, the three candidates for the two vacant seats for Oneonta Town Board, John Frisch, Scott Gravelin and Bill Mirabito, will answer questions.
The next evening's forum is reserved for Otsego County Board races. District 12 challenger Craig Gelbsman, a Republican, will debate Democratic incumbent Cathy Rothenberger.
District 13 incumbent Scott Harrington, a Republican, will debate Democrat Linda Rowinski, and District 4 incumbent Richard Murphy, a Democrat, will trade viewpoints with Republican challenger Janet Hurley-Quackenbush.
All of the forums are scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Craven Lounge of Morris Hall at the State University College at Oneonta.
If you can't get to the events, you can watch them live on public access Channel 23 or online at www.oneonta.edu/academics/irc.
Each forum will be re-telecast shortly before the elections on Nov. 3.
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