Jackson Invites Wilson, Unz to Square Off in Radio Debate

Radio talk show host Michael Jackson began Wednesday’s debate by asking for another before the June 7 primary: between Gov. Pete Wilson and his Republican challenger, physicist Ron Unz.

“Gov. Wilson, this is your formal invitation,” said Jackson, who hosts a daytime talk show on KABC-AM (790). Later, he repeated his offer to make time for such an exchange of views: “I repeat, governor, I’ll cancel anything we’re doing.”

The Unz campaign, which was listening to the discussion and has repeatedly sought a debate with Wilson, immediately accepted Jackson’s invitation via fax. Dan Schnur, Wilson’s spokesman, said he was attempting to reach the governor in Washington to get an answer.

Jackson wasn’t the only one to call for more debates. During Wednesday’s back and forth, state Sen. Tom Hayden prompted applause when he turned to his fellow Democrats and asked: “Since we have not discussed the environment, have not discussed women, have not discussed race, could we have more debates?”

Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi immediately agreed, prompting this retort from state Treasurer Kathleen Brown: “Ron Unz is a lot closer to Pete Wilson in the polls than you are to me, so I think that we need to hear who I might be running against in November.”