WASHINGTON — Alaska television station KTUU is moving ahead with plans to hold a live debate between candidates for U.S. Senate, but Sen. Lisa Murkowski won't be there.
Campaigns for Alaska's U.S. Senate candidates have been engaging in behind-the-scenes sparring over which and how many debates occur before voters head to the polls Nov. 8.
Some of those challenging Murkowski for her seat were disappointed to find that the senator appears to have more leverage when it comes to setting the schedule.
But KTUU, unable to get the senator to agree to its proposed debate, has decided to move forward without her.
Murkowski "would like to say yes to every event, but there's only so much time before Nov. 8, and she has a very aggressive travel schedule between then and now," said Robert Dillon, Murkowski's campaign communications director.
"I hope that changes," said KTUU News Director Tracy Sabo. "We invited everyone."
Sabo said the invitation to participate remains open until the 90-minute debate, which will air live around 7:30 p.m after the NFL game on Oct. 16. Reporters Steve MacDonald and Austin Baird are the moderators. KTUU plans to rebroadcast the debate on KYES-TV Channel 5.
Murkowski agreed to four debates. Her schedule was released on Sept. 26.
But challenger Joe Miller, running on the Libertarian ticket, has accused Murkowski of steering the debate schedule toward more receptive audiences. Her campaign says she agreed to debates that would provide her a wide swath of constituencies.
So far, candidates Murkowski, Miller, Margaret Stock, an independent, and Democrat Ray Metcalfe have mostly agreed to the four debates the senator plans to attend. Both Metcalfe and Miller were still wavering this week on whether they will attend all of them. Those debates are:
Wednesday: Senate Fisheries Debate in Kodiak, hosted by the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce.
Oct. 21: Alaska Federation of Natives Candidate Forum in Fairbanks.
Oct. 26: Senate Debate on the Arctic in Barrow, hosted by the Inuit Arctic Business Alliance.
Nov. 3: Debate for the State in Anchorage, hosted by Alaska Public Media.
Sabo said KTUU doesn't plan to make much of Murkowski's absence in the debate, other than to say "we'll simply let our viewers know that all candidates were invited to attend," with a reminder for those who tune in late.
Miller argues Murkowski's debate schedule "includes only one statewide televised debate days before the election" — the Alaska Public Media Network debate on Nov. 3.
"The other three 'debates' are hosted by special interest groups that have strongly backed (Murkowski) in the past," Miller said in a press release after Murkowski released her debate schedule.
Murkowski's campaign disagreed with Miller's characterization of the debate schedule.
"The debates she has agreed to participate in reflect her efforts to speak to the broadest group of Alaskans on the most diverse range of issues possible. From Kodiak to Barrow and from Anchorage to Fairbanks, the debates and forums that Sen. Murkowski participates in will cover issues that both urban and rural Alaskans care about," Dillon said.
Dillon added that television networks are welcome and encouraged to cover all of the debates.
Miller said the schedule will allow Murkowski to "avoid answering tough questions and deprive Alaskan voters of an informed choice."
Stock's campaign said they agreed to do the KTUU debate, but had not heard anything from the station beyond initial contact more than a week ago.
Stock's media liaison Amy Jackman said her campaign did not share the same level of concern about the debates as Miller, and said his claim "almost sounds kind of whiny."
But, "I can tell you that everyone that I have spoken to" while scheduling debate appearances seem "very much like they're trying to all base it on what Lisa Murkowski can or can't do, or does or does not want to do," Jackman said.
And if a television or radio station is willing to host a debate, "I think that Lisa Murkowski owes it to the people of Alaska to participate," Jackman said.
"I do think that it's unfortunate that it seems to be that Lisa feels like she might be able to control these things," she said.