The Show at Coe, The Affair at Sinclair, The Big Debate

There's a gubernatorial debate in Cedar Rapids tonight. I know, I couldn't sleep either.

Gov. Chet Culver and former Gov. Terry Branstad meet for a forum at Coe College's Sinclair Auditorium at 7 p.m. It will be broadcast on digital KCRG-TV9.2 and online. If you try to watch it on regular channel 9, you might think Dr. McDreamy is running. He is not. It's also on Iowa Public Television at 8 p.m.

I'll be liveblogging during the debate at http://thegazette.com/

Polls show Culver trailing Branstad by a country mile. The Big Lug is running out of time to make a big comeback.

Here's how I'll be scoring the affair at Sinclair.

Answering Questions - I'll award points any time either candidate actually answers the question posed by panelists. At their first meeting in Sioux City, many fine questions went unanswered. They were buried in a blizzard of mud and talking points.

Details - I understand debates don't yield detailed proposals, but we can hope. It would be nice, for instance, if Branstad were more specific on how he plans to slash government spending by 15 percent. Culver could explain how he expects to keep Medicaid generous and affordable.

“Reckless and Irresponsible” - Branstad says this about Culver when he can't think of what else to say. Points off.

“Unprecedented” - Culver uses this to embellish things that have actually happened before. Points off.

Flood Mitigation/Watershed Management - I'll give points to the candidate who actually has a plan, but I'm not holding my breath. In Sioux City, a flood question prompted the candidates to bicker over who hired the best general, Branstad's 1993 Tommy Thompson or Culver's 2008 Ron Dardis. Points off for general cluelessness.

Culverisms - Will the governor make an inadvertent funny? Last debate, he talked of replacing the brain drain with a “brain suck.” He may lose or gain points, depending on entertainment value.

Wayback Machine - How many times will Branstad reach back for a 1985 solution to a 2010 issue? In some cases, it's appropriate to cite his previous tenure. But at other times, it suggests a deficit of new ideas.

Hyperbole Highway - I'll be watching to see if the charges and countercharges become more and more outlandish as the debate goes on and the heat rises. Will Culver claim that I-JOBS built Coe College? Will Branstad claim he's responsible for every Iowa job created since statehood? We shall see.

Surprises - Very rare in the debating game, but always possible.

Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@sourcemedia.net