By DAVE KITCHELL
Pharos-Tribune staff writer
Debates in the 2nd District congressional race will primarily be skewed to the northern half of the district.
What appeared to be a five-debate series last week dwindled to three Tuesday. A debate scheduled on WIOU Oct. 4 with questions posed by Amber Stearns of WIOU and Logansport-based Hoosier Country FM will not be held.
Katie Nee, a spokesman for Democrat Joe Donnelly, said he would not appear at a debate proposed by Rep. Chris Chocola Oct. 4 in Kokomo. Nee said he also would not appear at a debate on WNIT, the Elkhart PBS station.
“We’re booked,” Nee said of the campaign schedule from now until Election Day Nov. 7.
Donnelly, who a recent poll by the South Bend Tribune and WSBT indicated is leading Chocola by 8 points, has agreed to appear at Rochester High School Tuesday, on WSBT Oct. 21 and on WNDU Oct. 28. Nee said she is unsure the times for the debates proposed by the Chocola camp are correct.
Brooks Kochvar, campaign spokesman for Chocola, said Donnelly’s campaign is not living up to an earlier claim that would debate in every county in the district.
“Clearly that was the lip service and they did not have an interest in allowing voters to hear from them throughout the district. It’s a shame.
“It’s a shame Logansport’s not going to have a debate carried live on the radio. I think there’s a reason for this. Joe Donnelly knows when voters hear Chris Chocola versus Joe Donnelly on the issues, Chris Chocola wins every time because he shares the values and beliefs of the voters of the 2nd district.”
Kochvar said in a debate format, the differences between the two candidates would be clarified.
In a released statement, the Chocola campaign accused Donnelly of “ducking” Chocola.
“Chris Chocola shares the values and beliefs of voters of the Second District and Joe Donnelly does not, and that would be made clear in any debate, and that is the reason Joe Donnelly is afraid to face off with Chocola.”
“The fact that Joe Donnelly will not live up to his word should come as no surprise. It’s much like the rest of his campaign,” said Kochvar. “Joe Donnelly says he supports ethanol, but says he would have voted against the Ethanol Bill. Donnelly says he doesn’t want to raise taxes, but Donnelly says he would have voted against the bill to prevent a tax increase. Donnelly says he wants prescription drugs for our seniors, but then calls their benefit a train wreck. Now Joe Donnelly says he wants to debate, but refuses to debate. Clearly voters cannot trust Joe Donnelly.”
