The two frontrunners in the race to be Colorado’s next governor will participate in one of the last debates of the campaign at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in DU’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts. The free event will be presented by 9News, the University of Denver and the Denver Post.
9News anchor Adele Arakawa will moderate the hour-long debate between Republican candidate Bob Beauprez and Democratic candidate Bill Ritter, which will be broadcast live on 9News. Although the two gubernatorial candidates have faced off more than two dozen times during the campaign, 9News reporter Adam Schrager says this debate will be different.
“It will be an engaging, entertaining hour,” Schrager says, adding that questions will be posed about both the person and the politician. “They’ll be asked questions they haven’t been asked and you’ll hear answers you haven’t heard.”
The debate — billed as Decision 2006: Race for the State: A Gubernatorial Debate — will not include candidates Paul Fiorino, Clyde Harkins or Dawn Winkler-Kinateder, Schrager explains, because of a longstanding 9News policy to exclude candidates whose polls show no more than 3 percent support.
Jim Berscheidt, DU’s assistant vice chancellor of News and Public Affairs, says even though the debate is scheduled to take place on Halloween, DU hopes to have a nearly full house.
Tickets were still available as of Oct. 26. Individuals may obtain up to four free tickets from the Newman Center Box Office, open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before the debate.
For ticket availability, call the Newman Center box office at 303-871-7720. The free tickets are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.