Boxer, Jones OK Debate but Libertarian Not Included

After a false start and a little gamesmanship, the Barbara Boxer and Bill Jones U.S. Senate campaigns agreed Friday to debate each other Aug. 10 in Los Angeles -- drawing a howl of protest from Libertarian candidate Jim Gray’s staff.

The debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and to be held at the Museum of Tolerance, will be limited to candidates who receive more than 10% support in independent polls, said league debate consultant Xandra Kayden.

Problem is, no independent polls have included the names of any candidates other than Democratic Sen. Boxer and Republican challenger Jones.

“That’s really absurd,” said Gray spokeswoman Julia el Haj.

Sean Walsh, Jones’ senior strategist, said he doubted that the campaign would agree to let Gray or any other third-party candidate take part. Oakland schoolteacher Marsha Feinland is running on the Peace and Freedom ticket, and San Leandro chiropractor Don J. Grundmann is representing the American Independent Party.

None of those parties have more than 2% of the state’s registered voters.

“It’s clear that the choice is going to be between Bill Jones and Barbara Boxer,” Walsh said.

Boxer consultant Roy Behr said he doubted that Gray or any other third-party candidate would have received 10% support even if they had been included in polls.

“These are the standards that the league has used for many years,” Behr said. “Every now and then a third-party candidate reaches that standard. It’s not out of reach. But it’s certainly out of reach for any third-party candidate in this election.”

Boxer announced two weeks ago that she would take part in the debate, then scheduled for a few days earlier, in a move that rankled Jones’ advisors, who were still negotiating with Boxer’s campaign staff. The date was moved to Aug. 10 to accommodate Jones’ schedule.

Both campaigns said they were negotiating for more debates.

The Aug. 10 debate will be aired from 6 to 7 p.m. on KNBC-TV Channel 4 in Los Angeles and will be made available to other media outlets, said producer Scott Regberg.

Gray’s supporters said they expected to be at the debate -- even if they were standing outside demonstrating.

“We just think it’s not fair,” said Pardis Zadeh of the Gray campaign.