Challenger calls for 24 debates in Iowa’s 2nd District

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Republican running for the U.S. House in Iowa's 2nd District is challenging the incumbent to a series of 24 forums.

'Our 24-county forum series will be a way to curb the influence of money in politics and let our constituents hear directly from the candidates who want to represent them,” Christopher Peters said in a debate invitation to Rep. Dave Loebsack, an Iowa City Democrat running for a sixth term.

Peters wished Loebsack 'the best of luck” and promised to run a clean race.

'I know that's how you've conducted your campaigns before and I admire it,” Peters said.

Iowans, according to Peters, a Coralville surgeon, 'are increasingly concerned with the influence of money in politics.”

'You also know that incumbent candidates have enormous fundraising power, which threatens to drown out the voices of grass roots challengers,” he said in the debate invitation.

According to campaign finance reports, Loebsack has raised more than $1 million, while Peters has raised just under $25,000.

Loebsack hadn't seen the invitation Thursday morning, but said it's too early to think about debates.

'We're four months out from the election,” Loebsack said. 'We'll take into consideration. I'm happy to debate, but it's pretty far off to be thinking about that today.”