Warner, Gillespie meet for first debate Saturday at Greenbrier

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Virginia Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner and Republican candidate Ed Gillespie will debate Saturday during the Virginia Bar Association’s 124th annual summer meeting at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The debate will be moderated by Judy Woodruff, PBS NewsHour co-anchor and managing editor, and PBS will livestream the debate. The candidate campaigns have agreed to the debate format: it will consist of opening and closing statements, candidate-to-candidate questions, and moderator questions.

Usually held at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, this year the event will take place in nearby West Virginia. The tradition of the VBA-sponsored debates between candidates for statewide political office extends back nearly 30 years. In the summer of 2013, the debate featured gubernatorial candidates Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who went on to win in November 2013, and Republican Ken Cuccinelli. The non-partisan VBA sponsors debates to help educate the public and its members about candidate views on issues and to stimulate voter interest and participation in the election process.

Saturday’s event will take place at 11:00 a.m.