DENVER – U.S. Sen. Mark Udall has passed on two televised debates related to his re-election bid against Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner.
The debates had never been officially scheduled with KDVR-TV Fox31 Denver and KCNC-TV CBS4 Denver. But the two stations were hopeful that Udall would commit.
Udall spokesman Chris Harris said his camp had tried to work with Gardner’s team on finding acceptable times, but that they were unwilling to negotiate.
“We wanted to work with them on scheduling and logistics, so that we can all find debates we wanted to agree with,” Harris said. “They refused to work with us to find dates. ... They were not cooperative.”
In passing on the two televised debates, Udall’s camp is turning down a combined two hours of free, live airtime during an expensive and tight election.
One of the debates would have been with well-known political reporter Eli Stokols, who was frustrated by the decision.
“After refusing to discuss our request to hold a debate for two months, Mark Udall’s campaign informed us today they don’t have time to do our debate,” Stokols said. “This from a senator who’s had the time to climb mountains on his three-week recess.
“Obviously, the senator is making the same calculation incumbents often make to limit debates,” he said. “It may be a smart one.”
Udall’s team pointed out that they are set for a debate with KUSA-TV 9News in Denver. And Udall and Gardner are still expected to face off at the Club 20 fall debates that will begin today.
Back in June, Udall issued a letter to Gardner challenging him to join in a series of “spirited” debates. He asked the League of Women Voters to work out the logistics.
“I look forward to working together to secure a mutually agreed upon schedule encompassing appearances and/or debates with mainstream media partners and moderators in the major Colorado television markets,” Udall wrote at the time.
On Aug. 5, Udall sent another letter to Gardner once again asking his opponent to work with the League of Women Voters to facilitate discussions.
“You and I both agree that holding a series of open and honest debates is first and foremost about the people of Colorado,” Udall wrote.
But Gardner’s campaign said that when Udall sent out the letter to Gardner in June, Gardner already had accepted six debates and sent out a news release about it.
“Mark Udall has voted 99 percent of the time with President Obama,” said Matt Connelly, a Gardner spokesman. “Now, he’s scared to face Colorado voters and answer for being a rubber stamp for the president’s policies.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
