Debating Candidate Brewer

Does one debate define a political candidate? Probably not. Will Jan Brewer lose in November?. Again, the answer is: probably not. Then again, Governor Brewer is not the prototypical gubernatorial candidate. Brewer, a Republican, inherited the governorship while serving as Secretary of State because Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano went on to bigger and better things. This was a duly constitutional ascension to power, but while constitutional legitimacy is one thing, kitchen table legitimacy is another.

Signing AZ SB 1070 into law gave Gov. Brewer instantanious notoriety and acclaim among Republicans here and nationwide. Brewer has been basking in the glow of sometimes sympathetic and frequent national media attention. She as handled the spotlight well, acquitting her case for 1070 and her candidacy ably until ... the vague desert beheading statement she made and, especially, her recent horrid debate performance. All signs say that the Governor will not face AG Goddard in another debate. In my opinion this is a mistake.

Gov. Brewer should not allow the debate to become a millstone. Goddard, 20 points behind on the Rasmussen polling of the race, now has an effective angle to attack the Governor with. Brewer need not wipe the floor with Goddard in a second debate. Indeed, Goddard's debate performance was just passable, but was made to appear better than it was by Brewer's brain cramp. But she must face him again, and simply deliver a clean performance, one I am certain she is capable of delivering.

SB 1070 gave the Governor national standing that may prove valuable to her in the future. Perhaps, like Napolitano, she could become a cabinet secretary for a future President. However, her debate debacle, coupled with her retraction and clarification of her claim that headless bodies were found in the Arizona desert have cast new doubts on her candidacy, and, dare I say, her faculty, while simultaneously giving Terry Goddard what any politician down 20 points could hope for, a seam of opportunity. If Brewer follows conventional political wisdom and avoids the possible risks of another debate, her 20 point lead may very well become a 10 point lead, or worse. While Gov. Brewer may be able to ride this year's Republican wave to ultimate victory, should she fail to debate Goddard again, the lasting image of her candidacy will be the one she most earnestly wants us all to forget.