Debating the Debate : Cranston, Zschau Camps Still Trying to Work Out Details for Televised ‘Alan and Ed Show’

This fall, according to reports from Hollywood, television viewers can expect a new show about fast-lane lawyers and another about a furry creature from outer space.

But what about the “Alan and Ed Show”?

That is the question in California political circles as negotiators for Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston and his Republican challenger, Rep. Ed Zschau, try to work out details for a series of televised debates.

It is a delicate process because it goes to the heart of how each candidate sees his strengths.

On one side there is Zschau, who is 46 but looks younger with his boyish smile and thick thatch of hair. A polished speaker, Zschau never uses a prepared text and rarely even glances at notes.

Zschau’s television commercials depict a dynamic young man who represents “leadership for the future” and he believes televised debates would confirm that image with the voters. He is less concerned about ground rules than he is about making sure the debates are televised statewide.

And then there is Cranston, who is a vigorous 72 but often looks older because of his bald pate and a gauntness that aides attribute to his low-fat diet and commitment to exercise.

In his 18 years in the Senate, Cranston has never been known as one of that chamber’s great orators. He is a detail man, juggling volumes of information about various bills and keeping track of how each senator is leaning on major votes.

Cranston reads his speeches from a prepared text and is dependent on copious notes, many of which he makes himself from his voracious reading of books, newspapers and magazines.

The senator’s TV commercials show him working for his constituents and say that in 18 years he has become “California in the Senate.”

Cranston says he is eager to debate Zschau, but he wants to make sure the debate ground rules allow him to demonstrate his grasp of major issues.

“We want debates that are issue-oriented,” Cranston spokesman Kam Kuwata said Tuesday. “For example, if you had a panel of journalists asking questions, as opposed to taking questions from the audience, it would be more directed toward issues. . . . Alan Cranston is in step with California voters on things like safe drinking water. . . . Ed Zschau is very much out of step and to point that out in a debate would help us a lot.”

Clean Water Act

Kuwata was referring to Cranston’s support for the Federal Clean Water Act and for Proposition 65, the so-called “Safe Drinking Water” initiative that is on the November ballot. Zschau voted against the Clean Water Act because he said it contained too many “pork-barrel projects.” He has not taken a position on Proposition 65.

“We are eager to debate,” said Zschau campaign manager Ron Smith, who has accepted an offer from the League of Women Voters for two one-on-one debates with Cranston and a third debate that would include the three candidates of the Libertarian, Peace and Freedom and American Independent parties.

“Our proposal is unique in that it offers statewide broadcasting in prime time,” said Kay Mason, who is in charge of arranging the debates for the league. “We believe in maximizing the audience.”

Aiming for Fall

Mason said the league hopes to have one of its Senate debates in late September and the other two in October.

Ron Peterson, Cranston’s debate negotiator, said the senator’s campaign has not accepted the league offer because it is studying several other offers from groups that want to sponsor debates.

Representatives of both major candidates will confer today on ground rules for possible debates.

The matter has had its less serious moments. At a recent Cranston press conference in San Jose, a man dressed as a chicken showed up wearing a sign that asked Cranston why he was avoiding debates.

The Cranston campaign jokingly charged that the person in the chicken suit was none other than Zschau manager Smith.

“Your chicken routine lacks dignity,” Cranston manager Darry Sragow wrote to Smith. “ I suggest you save it for Nov. 5th after the sky has fallen on your campaign.”