Dean Corren, now the Democratic and Progressive candidate for Lieutenant Governor, is challenging incumbent Republican Phil Scott to a lengthy series of debates — at least ten in all. His letter to Scott mentions that while “three or four have been scheduled or are in the works, we could easily do ten or 12…” And: 

As Aki Soga said in a recent Free Press editorial, “The candidates owe Vermonters a vigorous debate that makes clear how they will represent the people’s interest if they are elected to office.” 

With the gubernatorial campaign devolving into a one-sided laugher and the other three statewide offices effectively decided, the race for Lieutenant Governor is the only platform for a meaningful debate on the issues. Now that Corren has the Democratic nom as well as the Progressive, his challenge to Scott is a fully credible one. If Scott had managed to weasel out the Democratic spot, he could have portrayed Corren as a marginal figure. 

Of course, I don’t expect anything like ten debates. Scott will likely take the well-funded incumbent’s path: a minimal number of debates, to diminish the chance that he would commit a campaign-defining gaffe — or, more likely, that he would be forced to define himself politically for the first time in his career. Given a chance, Corren would have the opportunity to force Scott out of the bushes on health care reform, the environment*, campaign finance, taxation, human services, marijuana, and more. 

*Especially as Scott’s campaign has been lavishly funded by Vermont’s construction industry. 

Scott’s best chance for not only this year but his political future, is to maintain the benign good-guy image that has made him the only Republican with any appeal to the electorate. Which is why I think he’ll try to shorten the debate schedule. And he’ll probably get away with it.