Judge, Grassley look to fall debates

DES MOINES - Albia Democrat Patty Judge is challenging six-term Republican Chuck Grassley to four, live televised debates heading up to November general election in Iowa's U.S. Senate race.

Judge - a former lieutenant governor, secretary of agriculture and state senator - issued a call Tuesday for the two major-party candidates to hold televised debates in the state's four largest media markets based in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Davenport. She also proposed a radio debate.

Judge said her campaign would reach out to media outlets across the state to begin the process of planning debates. The campaign has already received and accepted an invitation from KCCI-TV and the Des Moines Register to participate in a general-election debate.

'Iowans have an important choice in this election and four televised debates in Iowa's largest media markets will give voters all across the state the opportunity to see both candidates before casting their ballot,” Judge said in a statement.

'I'm excited to talk with voters about how we can break the gridlock and get back to work for families across Iowa,” she added. 'I hope Chuck Grassley agrees to participate in a series of four televised debates across Iowa and allow voters to make an informed decision in November.”

Robert Haus, campaign manager for Grassley Works, said the GOP senator would consider the debates once he receives more details from his Democratic Challenger's campaign.

'Sen. Grassley has always debated his opponents, and intends to do so in this campaign as well,” Haus said in a statement. 'Despite her statements to the contrary, we have received no formal invitation from the Judge campaign and will consider it when it is received. Given her history of chronic absenteeism and missing 50 percent of the primary debates and forums, Iowans should worry whether Patty Judge will even show up.”

Judge's campaign noted that she participated in two televised debates and a series of forums across the state, while Grassley has not participated in live televised debates in recent elections.