From the LuAnn Bennett for Congress campaign:
#NoCommentComstock Ducking Debates, Joint Appearances
McLean – Vulnerable incumbent Rep. Barbara Comstock has now dodged six opportunities to appear on the same stage with her Democratic opponent LuAnn Bennett to discuss the issues important to 10th Congressional District voters. Throughout the campaign, Comstock has consistently ducked questions from the press and her constituents regarding Donald Trump and their shared agenda. According to Bruce DePuyt, host of the New Talk program on News Channel 8:
“We have tried many times over the years to sit down and interview Barbara Comstock, she’s the only incumbent Member of Congress in the 13 years I’ve been doing this show who has not come in.”
“Unable to defend her partisan Washington record and unwilling to face the people of Northern Virginia, Barbara Comstock would rather hide and run out the clock than face 10th district voters,” said Bennett spokesman Robert Howard. “Comstock’s apparent strategy is to seek shelter from her constituents and the press and hope no one notices the extreme agenda she has in common with Donald Trump.”
The following is a list of organizations that have reached out to both the Comstock and Bennett campaigns and invited both candidates to participate in some form of joint appearance, either a debate, forum, meet & greet, etc. The Comstock campaign rejected all but one of the invitations and the Bennett campaign accepted all. Most of the events have been canceled due to Comstock’s unwillingness to appear.
1. McLean Citizens Association
Invited both candidates to participate in a debate at the McLean Community Center theater. Both Barbara Comstock and her opponent John Foust participated in this debate in 2014.
Bennett – Accepted
Comstock – REJECTED
2. News Channel 8 “NewsTalk” Surrogate Debate
Invited both campaigns to offer a representative for a surrogate debate. Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker represented Bennett; an empty chair represented Comstock.
Bennett – Accepted
Comstock – REJECTED
3. *Winchester Branch of American Association of University Women in partnership with Friends of Handley Regional Library.
Invited both candidates, as well as candidates for Mayor in the city of Winchester, to participate in a candidate’s forum to allow voters to learn more about the candidates.
Bennett – Accepted
Comstock – REJECTED
*NOTE: This event will proceed despite Comstock’s refusal to participate. It will be held on Saturday October 8th from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm at Handley Library in Winchester.
4. League of Women Voters – Fairfax Area in partnership with AAUW, Voice of Vietnamese, Fairfax County Council of PTAs, Zeta Phi Beta, and AARP Virginia.
Invited both candidates to appear in a one-hour televised candidate forum on the Fairfax Public Access TV program Inside Scoop.
Bennett – Accepted
Comstock – REJECTED
5. League of Women Voters – Prince William Area with the Prince William County Committee of 100.
Invited both candidates to participate in a candidate’s forum designed to educate and inform 10th district residents living in Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
Bennett – Accepted
Comstock – REJECTED
6. League of Women Voters – Loudoun County in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College Loudoun Campus.
Invited both candidates to participate in a “Meet & Greet Candidate Night” to meet and speak with voters.
Bennett – Accepted
Comstock – REJECTED
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