U.S. House 2nd District: Miller-Meeks proposes 7 debates with Loebsack

IOWA CITY - The Republican challenger in Iowa's U.S. House 2nd District is challenging the incumbent to a series of debates to give everyone 'an opportunity to observe the differences between us.”

In a letter to Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa City today, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa called for seven debates between now and October across the 24-county district, which includes Johnson County.

The Loebsack campaign indicated it is interested three debates 'so folks can see the stark differences between Dave and his Tea Party challenger.”

Miller-Meeks, who is challenging Loebsack for a third time, said debates in five media markets in the district plus two sponsored by colleges or universities would provide a platform to debate the issues - 'everything from a sluggish economy to out of control spending, an Affordable Care Act that is not what was promised, and a dysfunctional Washington that is making everything worse.”

'Organizing the debates in this manner would allow various media outlets, civic organizations and student groups across the district an opportunity to get involved in the political process,” she said in the letter.

The district, she pointed out, has grown from 15 counties to 24 since the two last faced off.

Loebsack 'looks forward to having an open conversation” with Miller-Meeks, campaign manager Jennie Johnson said.

Johnson also quoted a campaign spokesman for Republican Gov. Terry Branstad who called Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Jack Hatch's proposal for nine debates 'tacky, desperate campaign gimmicks from (a) struggling campaign.”