Efforts to Restart Televised Debate Between Merkley, Wehby Stall

Email to a friend Permalink

Thursday, October 09, 2014

Kirsten Nicolaisen, GoLocalPDX Digital Producer

An effort to get a KGW debate between Senator Jeff Merkley and GOP challenger Monica Wehby back on track, after it was canceled last week, have fallen through, according to the Wehby campaign. 

Monica Wehby refused an invitation from KGW and The Oregonian to appear in a televised debate against Merkley on September 26 and the event was canceled.

The Wehby campaign announced Thursday that efforts to get a state-wide TV debate restarted had fallen through because Merkley had rejected the offer, according to campaign spokesman Dean Petrone.

The Merkley campaign was not available for comment when contacted and did not return calls.

Petrone criticized the Merkley campaign for being unwilling to debate his candidate.

“[This is] Further proof the Merkley campaign was bluffing when they said they wanted to provide Oregonians an opportunity to hear from both candidates," Petrone said. "Our campaign has bent over backwards to accommodate Senator Merkley, and now offered five separate televised forums for the candidates to square off, only to have our offers rebuked each and every time."

Currently only the debate scheduled is a local KOBI TV debate on Oct. 14 in Southern Oregon and a possible forum at the Portland City Club on Oct. 24.

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink