Collett and McCollum camps trade barbs over debates
Republican Teresa Collett is criticizing DFL Rep. Betty McCollum for declining to attend a KSTP-TV/League of Women Voters debate which was scheduled to be taped on September 19th. Collett called on McCollum to explain why she is declining to attend the debate.
"What does Betty McCollum have to hide from the voters besides her record", Collett asked in a news release.
McCollum's political director Will Blauvelt said the campaign declined to attend the debate because KSTP's owner, Stanley Hubbard, has given $2,000 to Collett's campaign.
"We don't do debates where the sponsoring organization has made political contributions to our opponents," Blauvelt said. "We've had the principle for three or four cycles now."
Blauvelt said the McCollum campaign would likely accept a debate request if another TV station offered it. He also said the McCollum campaign has accepted two other debate requests.
The first is scheduled at the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce on September 21st. The event will be at Jinny's Conference and Catering. Blauvelt said the other debate will be sponsored by the St. Paul League of Women Voters on October 21st.
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