Senate Debate schedule set

Posted at 9:58 AM on September 1, 2006 by Tom Scheck

This was a joint release sent by DFLer Amy Klobuchar and Republican Mark Kennedy. No word on if the I-P candidate will be in any or all of these debates. Robert Fitzgerald has the I-P endorsement but faces a primary challenge.

JOINT STATEMENT

Mark Kennedy 06 and Klobuchar for Minnesota

For immediate release

September 1, 2006

The U.S. Senate campaigns of Amy Klobuchar and Mark Kennedy have agreed to a debate schedule and to a statement of principles governing such debates.

To date, the candidates have participated in three debates or joint appearances. They have agreed to participate in seven additional debates:

1. September 1 -- Minnesota Public Radio, State Fair.

2. September 19 – AARP, TCPT studios, St. Paul.

3. October 10 – Debate Minnesota, Moorhead.

4. October 15 – Meet the Press, Washington, D.C.

5. October 29 – League of Women Voters, Channel 5, St. Paul.

6. November 2 – Minnesota News Network, Rochester.

7. November 5 – Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul.

The campaigns have left open the possibility of an eighth, televised debate later in the campaign, to be scheduled by agreement.

The campaigns have agreed that the candidates will attend and participate in the seven debates, unless compelling official business dictates otherwise. Invitations for debates or joint appearances not on the above schedule will be declined by both campaigns and there will be no challenges to one another for additional debates.

The campaigns have agreed to the following principles for the debates, which will be conveyed to the debate sponsors:

1. The debates should be substantive and dignified.

2. The campaigns should have reasonable involvement in the specific format, stage setting, and other arrangements.

3. The candidates should have an opportunity for detailed answers to questions, with initial answers of at least two minutes.

4. In the model of Jim Lehrer, the role of the moderator should be to facilitate, rather than control, candidate dialogue. The moderator should not express opinions and moderator questions should reasonably well balanced. Candidates should have equal time to respond. Moderators should be acceptable to the candidates.

5. No campaign should attempt to dominate audience attendance or disrupt debates by applause or otherwise. Provisions should be made within each venue for the attendance of an equal number of campaign representatives. Campaign representatives should be courteous to one another.

6. The candidates should not use visual aids or challenge one another with proposed pledges.

7. The debates should include, and be limited to, candidates of each of the major political parties as defined by Minnesota law.

8. The campaigns commit to communicate and negotiate with one another promptly and in good faith to implement these principles.

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