Goode stuns stations, denies debate plan

By Sarah Arkin

Published: October 2, 2008

Congressman Virgil Goode’s announcement Wednesday that he wouldn’t be participating in next week’s debate with Democratic challenger Tom Perriello came as a surprise to news executives who had already slotted the time for the televised showdown.

Goode, R-5th, has said that he never confirmed the Tuesday debate in Charlottesville, and will be unable to attend because he will be attending a fundraiser.

Since the debate was set to take place at NBC29, the station was set to produce it and WSET in Lynchburg was planning on airing the coverage.

“As far as we were concerned, yes,” the debate was on, NBC29 news director Neal Bennett said Thursday.

The station had blocked out time on the schedule for the debate, he said.

Bennett said he had what he thought was a “firm verbal commitment” from Goode’s campaign manager, Tucker Watkins.

“I don’t know how it could have been interpreted in any other way,” said Neal, who said other political debates he’s covered have always been set up by campaign managers.

Bill Foy at WSET 13 said he received an e-mail Wednesday informing him that the debate was not going to happen.

Goode said in a telephone interview Wednesday that he is the only one who schedules his debates and never agreed to Tuesday night’s event.

Goode also told WSLS 10 on Wednesday that he had already scheduled the fundraiser when the debate request was made.

“I want to do another debate,” he told WSLS. “I can’t do it when they want me to do it.”

Perriello’s campaign said it worked with the stations for months to set up the debate.

“It’s just wrong that in a time of economic crisis, when voters most need to hear their representative’s plans for getting the economy back on track, Congressman Goode would prioritize fundraising from lobbyists ahead of the voters’ interests,” Perriello said in a written statement.

Bennett said NBC29 is working with Goode to set up a new time for the debate, and hopes to have something confirmed by the end of the week.

• Contact Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.