Republican Richard Eyre says Mike Leavitt, his GOP rival in the governor's race, has been campaigning for a year and still only has two issue papers.
Eyre, on the other hand, has written a whole book about his campaign issues - "available at libraries everywhere" - and is running several 60-second TV advertisements that detail, in the brief time allowed, where he stands on 10 issues.Where has Eyre been? counters LaVarr Webb, Leavitt's campaign manager.
"We have detailed issues papers - papers that are much more in-depth than that book of Eyre's - on public education, higher education, rural economic development, health care, the role of government, and crime and corrections," said Webb.
"We're developing more issue papers. But Mike's stands on a number of issues, like abortion, are well known. He's been speaking about them and answering questions for months."
Eyre said that in the final 12 days before the Sept. 8 primary election, he wants to publicly compare his stands "on the critical issues of the day" with those of Leavitt - who leads Eyre in the polls among those who say they're going to vote in the GOP primary.
"But I can't pin him down," said Eyre. "How can I hit this moving target?" He also criticized Leavitt's TV ads. "It's fine to talk about tadpoles and granddad's tractor for awhile. But it's time now to talk issues. Where does he stand?"
Webb said while Leavitt may not have a written issue paper on all of the subjects Eyre desires, "We aren't setting our agenda by what Richard wants."
"Eyre is running a traditional campaign for a guy behind in the polls," said Webb. "His own issues aren't getting him support, so he attacks his opponent, runs a negative campaign."
Eyre said he's not running a negative campaign, that he's very careful not to do so. "Negative? I'm just asking where he stands on the issues."
Eyre has said before that he's placing a lot of emphasis on next week's televised debates, sponsored by local TV stations. At the first debate next Tuesday, Eyre said he plans to take Leavitt on, pin him down on the issues and where they differ. "If I can find out where we might differ."