First Republican Iowa governor debate will be off-limits to public, media

The public and the press will be barred from the first debate of the 2010 Iowa gubernatorial race.

The first Republican Party primary debate will be taped in closed studio next Wednesday, April 7 by Sioux City NBC affiliate KTIV, then aired on April 10 and 11 on KTIV and two other NBC regional stations. No other members of the media will be allowed to observe the debate, KTIV director of news and operations Bridget Breen said.

Breen did not return calls seeking further comment.

Eric Woolson, spokesman for Sioux City candidate Bob Vander Plaats, said the debate rules were set by KTIV.

"It had always been my assumption that there would be media in the studio," Woolson said.

He said he doubted major newspapers or the Associated Press would give much coverage to a debate airing four days after the fact.

"I understand why the host (KTIV) would want their debate to air first, but I believe there ought to be as much coverage as possible," Woolson said.

Tim Albrecht, spokesman for Republican candidate Terry Branstad's campaign, said the campaign agreed to three debates that will be seen across the state, and the airing details were determined by KTIV.

“The formats and set-up are the role and responsibility of the entities hosting them,” Albrecht said.

The third Republican in the debate will be State Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll. The three men are vying to win the June 8 primary and move on to the November race to likely face first-term Democratic Gov. Chet Culver.

The other GOP debates will be held May 1 in Cedar Rapids and a date to be determined in Des Moines.

-- Charlotte Eby of the Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report.