Pearce: Udall Needs to Make a Decision About Debates

U.S. Senate Steve Pearce is putting pressure on Democrat Tom Udall to set dates for broadcast debates ahead of this fall's election. Pearce wrote an open letter to the media this afternoon asking Udall to stop stalling and pick a date for the NBC "Meet the Press" Senate debate.

Udall's campaign staff says they've been meeting and the letter is a publicity stunt.

Here's a copy of the letter from Pearce:

Dear Member of the Media,

Since it is clear that Tom Udall is stalling on debates, it is time to bring the statewide media into the negotiations for him to do what is right.

I urge him to have a meeting within the next seven days with our campaign and all of the electronic and print media to finalize a date certain for a series of debates to be televised in New Mexico and to confirm a date that is acceptable for Meet the Press as a national debate.

It is important to set these dates now so that Tom Udall cannot duck and run.

Sincerely,

Steve Pearce

Earlier in the week Pearce's campaign suggested debate dates in this August 07, 2008 News Release:

Albuquerque - Today, People for Pearce Campaign Manager John Billingsley contacted officials at KRQE, KOB, and NBC's "Meet the Press" to suggest possible dates for the future televised debates between Congressman Steve Pearce and Tom Udall. Billingsley has already accepted a debate on October 26th that will be televised by KOAT.

For the two remaining televised debates the Pearce and Udall campaigns have already agreed upon, Billingsley requested late September for KOB and mid-October for KRQE. The campaign has encouraged an October date for "Meet the Press".

"Steve wants the people of New Mexico to see the real differences between the candidates. He's willing to stand up and defend his record, his positions and his vision for the future of New Mexico and the country, " said Billingsley. "It's time for Tom Udall to stop ducking these debates and let the people of New Mexico know where he stands."

The suggested dates are as follows:

KOB: Septemeber 23rd, 25th, and 30th
KOAT: Between October 15th and 19th
NBC's Meet the Press: October 5th, 12th, and 19th

The Pearce campaign has already accepted KOAT's offer to hold a televised debate on October 26th.