José Francisco Peña Gómez explained why he will not debate with his contenders, namely Leonel Fernández and Jacinto Peynado in an interview with the Listin Diario on Wednesday, 1 May. He says that he will not do so because he is ahead and will not risk his position in front of the electorate. He said that was the same reason José María Aznar in Spain did not debate with Felipe González. “I am not going to risk going to a debate, if I am 10, 12 or 14 points ahead of Leonel Fernández. He said that it is not true that a debate is the best way for the people to get to know the candidates. He said that during an election campaign it is the most extravagant speaker offers the most, and we are carrying out a completely different style of campaign. He defined himself as a great polemicist. He also mentioned the example of President Joaquín Balaguer who never accepted to take part in a debate, and if Antonio Guzmán had accepted, he would not have won the election in 1978.