The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

PLP leader Perry Christie has denied an alleged claim by DNA leader Branville McCartney that the upcoming general election will be a "fight" between their parties, stating he doesn't know Mr McCartney's "capacity to mobilise" supporters.

Mr Christie also said he doesn't think Mr McCartney could stand up in a debate against either himself or Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.

"Bran McCartney is walking around saying that the fight is between the PLP and the DNA," Mr Christie said. "I suspect he's been going on some polling they've been doing in New Providence which at the time showed the level of difficulty that the FNM was facing."

The PLP leader explained he does not believe the election will come down to a DNA versus PLP face-off because of the DNA's lacking ability to gather support.

"I don't know Bran's capacity to mobilise support," Mr Christie said. "I really don't know the DNA. That's something that has to be seen."

As for the PLP, he "would go as far as saying" that his party is in "an excellent position" to win the next election.

"I feel very good about our chances," Mr Christie said. "I feel good about our preparation. I feel just as good as I felt in Elizabeth (by-election) and I know that he (Ingraham) doesn't have the capacity to come at me in the way he did at Elizabeth."

Responding to Mr McCartney's formal request for a debate with the leaders of both major political parties, Mr Christie claimed: "I would debate Bran every day of the week."

However, he believes Mr McCartney might not stand up to a debate against himself or even Mr Ingraham because they have the advantage of years of experience.

"I feel that when you've been around for as long as Hubert and I have been around ... If he (McCartney) stood in the same room as Ingraham on a debate and Ingraham was properly briefed, I mean just Ingraham's experience alone - his experience with being a minister of finance or governing or decision making would be so evident," Mr Christie said.

Although he previously stated he is willing to participate in a televised debate, he's now unsure following reports that Mr Ingraham is not interested in participating, as he would want to address the Prime Minister directly.

"For me, going forward, I'd have to really be persuaded ... if I'm going to beat Ingraham, I want to beat him head up, straight on and whatever his field is, whatever his territory, I want to get on the battlefield and take him head on.

"And let me put it this way, when I walk to the platform or the podium to present my candidates of New Providence, I want him sitting in the front seat of his chair with a drink in his hand. By the time I finish he'll have the whole bottle down. I can promise him that."