Dennis Delano, the Republican candidate for New York Senate District 58, has created a close race for incumbent Bill Stachowski despite the fact that he's turned down numerous debate and interview offers.
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"Certainly a Democrat should win that district, and if a Republican wins it, and they don't come out and talk with folks about the issues and appeal to them on that basis, then it's all about name recognition," Hardwick, a Canisius College professor, said.
According to Delano's campaign, he prefers to go door-to-door and talk with voters one-on-one as opposed to talking through a television camera.
Delano turned down 2 On Your Side's interview requests both yesterday and today and also declined to participate in a 2 On Your Side debate.
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"The process is: You want our votes, you've got to answer our questions," Hardwick said. "I think the only way you find that out is seeing him think on his feet, in a debate, finding out what he's all about, and I don't know how that comes out unless you talk to the media."
Stachowski said he's attended at least ten public forums and events and that Delano has not been at any of them.
We believe it's a shame my Republican opponent didn't feel it was necessary to come out in public and talk about the issues. The fact is--that is part of the process."
