Al Franken, Mike McFadden agree to three debates

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and his Republican challenger, Mike McFadden, have agreed to three debates leading up to the election.

The first of the debates will take place in Duluth, followed by two in the metro just before the Nov. 4 election. They are as follows:

• Duluth News Tribune/Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce: 8-9 a.m. Oct. 1

• WCCO TV: 10-11 a.m. Oct. 26

• Minnesota Public Radio: 7-8 p.m. Nov. 2

Franken spokeswoman Alexandra Fetissoff said when July's FarmFest candidate forum is included, Franken will have participated in four debates — the same number of debates that took place in the 2012 Senate race between Sen. Amy Klobuchar and GOP challenger Kurt Bills.

The McFadden campaign maintains the FarmFest forum was not a debate and that three debates are not enough.

McFadden challenged Franken last month to six debates throughout the state, including in Rochester and Moorhead, as well as a Twin Cities Public Television debate in the metro. McFadden spokeswoman Becky Alery said the campaign will continue to push for more debates with Franken, particularly in outstate Minnesota.

ABBY SIMONS