A much publicized radio debate between Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown scheduled for Tuesday, was abruptly cancelled leaving KGO out to dry, Owens, (who just took home a Marconi award) angry and the only radio free-for-all between the candidates 86ed.
A person close to the matter blamed Whitman's people for the last minute cancellation, and immediate speculation was that Whitman's nanny affair had a lot to do with it. Combine that with Owens being less predictable than any other formats--translation: Whitman and her people probably didn't want to be surrounded by a Bay Area radio broadcaster known to be tough-- tough, but fair.
As Owens pointed out at the top of the show, KGO spent considerable dollars taking out full page ads, and running numerous promos to tout the debate--all for naught now.
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Whitman's handlers saw a KGO radio debate as losing proposition.
ReplyDeleteIt was mutual, see the comment from Brown's spokesman in the SF Chronicle:
ReplyDelete"Sterling Clifford, Brown's spokesman, said the debate was only a "discussion" between the two candidates, and "by mutual agreement,'' the two have decided not to pursue it."
Sterling Clifford isn't in the business of spinning for Meg Whitman if it was indeed her decision.