In an attempt to better inform voters of their personal positions regarding the budget ballot measures, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner challenged two of his GOP rivals to debate the budget measures. Former state Budget Director Tom Campbell has accepted, while former EBay CEO Meg Whitman has declined. All three Republicans have expressed their serious interest in running for governor in 2010.

"Given the fact that we both stand strongly in opposition to Propositions 1A, 1B, and 1C-the most critical of the Special Election measures-and considering that the California Republican Party shares this position, I think we can do more for California by continuing to speak out across the state against these measures," Whitman wrote to Poizner, explaining why she declined

Campbell, however, supports Propositions 1A unlike Whitman and Poizner.

Despite Whitman's absence, both Campbell and Poizner have decided to hold a debate on May 18 at the Sacramento Press Club.

"We will gladly debate Tom Campbell even if Meg Whitman is uninterested in sharing her views with the people of California," said Poizner spokesman Kevin Spillane.

Poizner opposes all of the ballot measures, while Campbell supports 1A, 1D, and 1E. Whitman supports measures 1D-1F.

Poizner's team has already been criticizing Whitman for passing on the debate. They released a four-page political memo titled "The Meg Whitman Plan: Avoid Voters, Dodge Questions, Duck Debates." That was followed by a YouTube video that the Poizner campaign posted titled "Meg No Waaay (sic)." Once again, the video accuses Whitman of trying to avoid tough questions that might be asked during the debate. Mitch Zak, Whitman's spokesman, said she decided not debate because it would be a pointless exercise.

                                        

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