Gore: ‘I’ve accepted for two or three months now your invitation to debate on this program [Meet the Press with Tim Russert]. Have you gotten a yes from Governor Bush yet?’Russert: ‘His campaign says he will debate you, and the request is under consideration.’Gore: ‘Well, how are you going to persuade him to say yes, Tim?’Russert:’Well, maybe you’re helping today.’Gore: ‘Well, do you think so? But what kind of approach – can you get [GE CEO Jack Welch, NBC’s owner] involved?’ Al Gore
July 16, 2000, NBC transcripts and Wall Street Journal, September 8, 2000. When Governor Bush accepted this invitation in early September, the press tarred him with ‘ducking’ the debates because he agreed to be on Meet The Press, conveniently ignoring this exchange. Even ignoring that Gore said he would debate ‘any time, any where.’