Longtime newsman talks debate, media

Sam Donaldson praised succinctness from his debaters Saturday evening in the KENW studios. And he jokingly insisted it of himself.

“Time me,” Donaldson told the KENW crew prior to the Congressional debate airing, “to the minute you want me to shut up.”

Donaldson doesn’t take nearly as many cues in his 70s, though he still draws a paycheck from ABC News. The El Paso native and New Mexico resident filed reports from Vietnam and worked as ABC’s White House

Donaldson is working with New Mexico First and public television stations across the state to air debates of all three U.S. House races on November ballots in New Mexico. The first was Saturday, featuring 3rd District candidates Ben Ray Lujan and Tom Mullins.

Donaldson answered questions following the debate with Freedom New Mexico about the debate, his view on media and his Saturday surroundings.