What constitutes a public debate? The campaigns in Minnesota's third district sparred Thursday over the difference between holding debates in front of voters versus on TV or the radio.
Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen and his Democratic challenger Jim Meffert have scheduled three debates: a televised League of Women Voters/KSTP debate later this month and debates in October on Minnesota Public Radio and at the Edina Chamber of Commerce.
But the Meffert campaign says none of the debates will be held in front of voters, charging that Paulsen is avoiding public debates. Meffert has asked to have four more debates across the district with a live audience.
"An in-studio taping and a closed-door meeting are no substitute for public debates that voters can actually attend," Alex Falconer, Meffert's campaign manager, said in a statement.
Paulsen's campaign manager Tim Commers said the Meffert camp's claim that Paulsen is avoiding public debates is "ridiculous."
"A lot more people will see the televised debate than we could pack in four large auditoriums across the third district," Commers said. "If we were trying to avoid the public, we would try not to debate on TV."
