RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – The wife of Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Robert Sarvis posted a 15-minute YouTube video that expressed her shock and disappointment over her husband’s exclusion in the upcoming, and final, Virginia gubernatorial debate. Debate organizers recently announced Sarvis’s polling numbers did not meet the 10-percent threshold by the set deadline.
Dr. Astrid Sarvis urged debate hosts WDBJ-7 in Roanoke to reconsider the decision to exclude Sarvis from the Oct. 24 debate. She also encouraged supporters of Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli and Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe to pressure the candidates to do the right thing.
“This is not meant to be some contrived political move,” an emotional Sarvis said while holding back tears. “I know that you [debate organizers] have rules, but the point at which any rule no longer is in the best interest of the people of Virginia, then it’s at that point that the rule should be gotten rid of and changed.”
Sarvis said her husband’s current polling meets the 10-percent threshold established by the debate.
“Anything less than my husband’s inclusion in the debate on Oct. 24 with the other two camps is a disservice to Virginians,” she said. “To the McAuliffe and Cuccinelli camps, I’d like to challenge you to do what is fair and ask for my husband’s inclusion in the debate.”
She concluded with a warning the other candidates not to let fear cloud what they know is the right thing to do.
Along with a link to the video, the Sarvis campaign emailed the media a disclaimer.
“Astrid wishes to stress that this video was made at her own initiative and independent of the knowledge of, or participation by, Robert or the campaign,” Sarvis for Governor Communications Director and Strategist John Vaught LaBeaume wrote in a media advisory.
