This story is like the Energizer Bunny...
It made both major SW Missouri newspapers' Sunday editions.
Here is the link to the story that appeared in today's Joplin Globe:
http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=129650&c=87
A debate between U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt and Jim Newberry, his Democratic challenger before the Nov. 2 general election, is a possibility, but the time and place of the forum remains a question.
Newberry has been pressing Blunt for a public debate since his election in the Aug. 3 primary.
A formal request was made recently, along with invitations from Drury University, Springfield, where the two candidates for the 7th District congressional seat have been invited to appear at a university convocation.
Both the Newberry campaign and Robin Miller, convocations director at Drury, say they have not heard back from a Blunt representative.
But John Thompson, a spokesman for the Blunt campaign, says they have responded to Drury.
"They were told that the invitation was received and is being considered. You have to work things through the process, and that takes time," he said. "Roy has said he plans to debate. It's not a matter of if, just a matter of finding the time and place that works with both the candidates' schedules."
The Newberry camp has criticized Blunt, saying he appeared unavailable to debate locally, but that the congressman has been in other districts campaigning for other candidates.
"We extended a formal invitation on Aug. 24," said Marc Harrison, campaign spokesman. "But he (Blunt) was campaigning in North Carolina."
Blunt, who is chief majority whip of the House, does campaign for Republican contenders in other districts, Thompson said.
"As a leader, he'll try to help those who share our values to join him in Congress," he said. "He'll try to help those people be successful, to swell the number who see the world like we do."
Thompson said Blunt "is fully available to people in the district" through forums and other appearances.
"It's not the policy of the campaign to ever ignore legitimate requests for information or the congressman's attendance. It's just that there are more requests than there are hours in the day."
Miller, at Drury, first requested that Blunt and Newberry appear in a debate Sept. 9, during a time when Congress is in session.
Last week, she sent another letter suggesting six other dates.
"I think it would be great, because it would inform our students and encourage them to vote. I'm just going to keep trying," she said.
Newberry, of Springfield, is an attorney. This is his first run for public office.
Blunt, of Strafford, served two terms as Missouri Secretary of State. He was elected to Congress in 1977, and serves as majority whip, the third highest-ranking job in the House.