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By BURKE DAVIS III
Arundel Newspapers Staff Writer
It appears unlikely that U.S. Rep. D. French Slaughter, R-7th Dist., and Democratic challenger David M. Smith will square off face to face in this year’s campaign.
Mr. Smith has repeatedly called for debates, and with a recent poll showing that Rep. Slaughter may be 'highly vulnerable, his campaign strategists are turning up the heat. ■ Mr. Smith and his aides are implying - that the congressman’s handlers are afraid to let their candidate speak •• out in public.
The two candidates are scheduled to appear at a Fauquier Board i, of Realtors dinner-meeting Wednes. day night at Airlie House near Warrenton. But they and the three candidates for the county treasurer’s job each will be given only five min, utes to address the audience.
The event is a joint appearance t to summarize their platforms and not a forum.
Mr. Smith and the three treasurer candidates also have accepted “ an invitation to attend a candidates’ night scheduled for Oct. 8 at War' renton Junior High School and sponsored by the Times-Democrat and the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce.
“I will be there,” said Mr. Smith. His staff said the Democrat looks upon Fauquier as a “key county” in the huge district.
Rep. Slaughter’s campaign manager confirmed on Tuesday that the congressman won’t be able to attend. Rep. Slaughter, he said, has previous engagements both on Oct. 8 and on Oct. 15, an alternate evening also suggested.
“I am beginning to wonder if I will stand there that night to debate an empty chair,” said Mr. Smith early this week.
“While that makes for interesting photographs, it does nothing to help the voters understand the differences between us,” he said.
“He’s looking for credibility,” countered Slaughter campaign manager Tony Likins of Smith’s desire for a matchup. “We’re not going to provide him a forum to do that.”
“Having a part-time candidate is " giving me headaches,” said Mr. Likins, “but I’d rather have a full-time congressman.”
Likins denies that Rep. Slaughter is avoiding the issues, as Mr. Smith charges, or that he will compare poorly with the challenger in debate.
“He’s held over 200 town meetings throughout the district during his tenure,” Mr. Likins said. “He’s voted on important issues in the House. He has a long career spanning 20 years of answering questions. His views are very well known.”
The Smith campaign is using a
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