Brown Issues Call for Debate With Clinton

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. came to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton’s home ground Sunday night and challenged the Democratic front-runner to debate him.

He said he would like the debate to take place “before the California primary,” which is scheduled for June 2.

At the first stop in a series of planned campaign appearances in Arkansas, Brown said: “I want the people of Arkansas to vote for real change, and that’s why I’m challenging Bill Clinton to a debate.”

In the latest Los Angeles Times Poll published last week, Clinton led Brown, 48% to 38%, among likely voters in the California primary. Undeclared independent candidate Ross Perot led Clinton and President Bush when respondents were asked who they would vote for if the election were held then.

Brown said his call for a debate is an effort on his part to keep his candidacy out front as he sees media attention and voter interest shifting from the Democratic Party and toward the independent candidacy of Ross Perot.

“No this is not a desperation move,” Brown said, “I’m just trying to keep the Democratic Party from being marginalized by Ross Perot.”

Brown’s press conference was interrupted by the AIDS activist group ACT UP, and Brown used the occasion to say he supports the group’s efforts.

The former governor is expected to travel to Kentucky and New Jersey before returning to California on Tuesday night.

Democratic primaries are slated in Kentucky and Arkansas on Tuesday. Voting with California on the last day of Democratic primaries will be Ohio, New Jersey, Alabama, Montana and New Mexico.