With exactly five weeks until Election Day, Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman will square off in their first debate Tuesday night.  A Los Angeles Times/USC poll released over the weekend put Attorney General Brown just ahead of former eBay CEO Whitman at 49 percent to 44 percent, very close, given poll’s margin of error.  Analysts and voters alike are looking forward to verbal sparring from the opponents, hoping that the debate can begin to tip a nearly deadlocked election.  

The Trend

Brown has 40 political debates under his belt, but this is his first time facing a female candidate.  He must be careful not to sound condescending when addressing Whitman and discussing specific policies. Whitman, as a political novice, must show the voters she knows the ins and outs of the issues and move beyond one-liners.   

Links

Brown’s decision on the death penalty will likely be a debate topic. 

Whitman and Brown get celebrity endorsements.

Live chat during the debate. 

Voice your opinion during the debate. 

Commentary

What Whitman and Brown need to avoid. 

A USC professor calls the debate “probably the most significant event leading up to the election.” 

Actor Alec Baldwin slams Meg Whitman. 

Reach reporter Helen Tobin here.

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