More debates for governor needed

Four Republican candidates for governor held a spirited debate Wednesday, televised from WTVD's Durham studio.

Attorney Bill Graham, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, retired Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr and state Sen. Fred Smith discussed a range of issues including education, health care and political corruption.

Such debates have become staples of the election season in races ranging from local to national. They are an important part of educating the electorate and maintaining a healthy democracy.

But you have to wonder if Lt. Governor Bev Perdue got the memo.

Perdue, according to the polls, is well ahead of state Treasurer Richard Moore in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor. But she declined an invitation to a debate from WTVD and has said no to other TV debates.

It's too bad, because voters should have many chances to contrast the candidates before the May 6 primary. There are still seven weeks before the election, but no more TV debates are scheduled. We hope Perdue takes action to change that.

An official at Perdue's campaign said she has been in five debates and will participate in an online debate. Of the televised debates, two were forums on UNC-TV, one on Jan. 10 and one on Feb. 7.

Officials with Moore's campaign charge that Perdue is dodging debates that feature real give-and-take.

Perdue's strategy is common to front-runners who prefer to play it safe rather than risk saying something damaging in a debate. But that strategy is more about political calculation than concern for the public good.

Look at the presidential debates, in which front runners routinely mixed it up with marginal candidates, and did so early and often. The presidential debates may have been more than many people wanted to see, but voters couldn't say they didn't have the opportunity to learn about the candidates.

As things stand, Bev Perdue looks like the front-runner to be North Carolina's next governor. As such, she should provide North Carolina voters with every reasonable chance to learn more about her.