Lautenberg accepts a debate invitation

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg has accepted a debate with opponent Dick Zimmer on NJN. 

But the debate is set for November 1st. 

That led Zimmer’s campaign to accuse Lautenberg of “running out the clock,” having turned down at least 10 prior invitations. 

Sound familiar?  

Democratic primary challenger Rob Andrews made the call for Lautenberg to debate a central part of his campaign.  He ultimately got the Senator to agree to do two broadcast debates, both shortly before the election – one on the radio, and one on NJN on a Friday night.  And like Zimmer, the Andrews campaign responded that it wasn’t enough. 

Zimmer campaign Special Counsel Randy Mastro, who was brought on to the campaign  try to get Lautenberg to debate, demanded that the Senator participate in a debate broadcast on CBS on October 19th.

“I am astounded that Senator Lautenberg refuses to come out of hiding until November.  His campaign has been giving lip service about his commitment to holding face-to-face debates with Dick Zimmer since the primary, but with less than 5 weeks until Election Day, Senator Lautenberg has failed to tell voters why he deserves another six years in Washington,” said Mastro.  “ Zimmer has accepted invitations to more than twenty debates and candidate forums, and the one and only debate Lautenberg has accepted is in November.” 

Lautenberg spokeswoman Julie Roginsky said that the national financial crisis has caused Congress – which usually recesses in mid-September during election years – to expand its schedule.

She also denied the Zimmer campaign’s contention that Lautenberg would not agree to debate any time before November 1st.  The campaign, she said, will shortly announce other debates. 

 "Zimmer might be better off debating himself.  First he criticizes Senator Lautenberg's use of special appropriations for worthy New Jersey programs, then he attacks the Senator for not getting enough.  Then he whines about not having debates, and complains when we agree to them,” she said.