Will Bachmann debate? You decide

I've been trying to pin down whether there will be any debates between Republican U.S. House Rep. Michele Bachmann, DFLer Tarryl Clark, and IP candidate Bob Anderson.

So far, it seems that at least two possible debates were canceled because Bachmann didn't participate. That's not necessarily big news. The candidates get loads of debate requests. And last year, it appears that Bachmann limited her participation to two debates.

UPDATED: There were two public debates, as well as a debate on MPR that was limited to candidates.

But a conversation with Bachmann's spokesman, Sergio Gor, left me pretty confused. I *think* he said she'll be doing some debates, but that message seemed to change a few times in the course of our chat.

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Here's the transcript of the conversation. If you can decipher it unequivocally, let me know.

BAXTER: I've checked with a couple of these debate places, and they're saying they have not heard back from you. So I just want to pin down what you're going to commit to.

GOR: We've confirmed with some, you haven't dug those up, then.

BAXTER: I've called everyone that's on the list. I know two {debates} have been canceled so far because you guys weren't participating. And the other ones said you haven't confirmed.

GOR: I can't tell you what's on your list, that's the thing. I don't know what list you're going off of.

BAXTER: Can you tell me how many you've confirmed?

GOR: I can't.

BAXTER: How about the one in St. Cloud. Have you confirmed for that?

GOR: I can't confirm any of that.

BAXTER: How about Monticello. They say you haven't confirmed. Is that contrary.....

GOR: I can't confirm any of that. We're just not commenting on that.

BAXTER: I'm going to be writing something saying who says you have or haven't confirmed. So I wanted to give you the opportunity....

GOR: That's fine. Just include in there that we have said yes to some venues, and when they're ready to announce is when the press will learn. But I can 100 percent tell you we have confirmed with some venues.

BAXTER: Venues, plural?

GOR: Geez, you're getting picky, yes.

BAXTER: I just want to be precise.

GOR: Yeah.

BAXTER: But you're not going to say which ones?

GOR: Nope.

BAXTER: Can I ask you again... The other candidates are not giving a similar line about why they're not announcing which places. It doesn't seem to be as much of an issue with the venues being in control of this. Is that really what's going on?

GOR: What do you mean?

BAXTER: Are you concerned about getting.... too many national press in the door or something like that?

GOR: It's just a campaign decision. We're picking and choosing. As you can imagine, we get dozens and dozens of requests. We've got requests that I'm positive you don't have on your list.

BAXTER: Right.

GOR: There are all sorts of new venues and new clubs and organizations around the district, and then there are the news outlets, so we pick and choose.

BAXTER: Sure. But you will be participating in more than one debate?

GOR: I can't confirm that. We confirmed with several venues about participating. That's where I'm going to leave it at.

BAXTER: When you say you confirmed... you mean you RSVP'd? You're not saying you affirmatively responded?

GOR: We've affirmatively responded.

BAXTER: You have affirmatively responded to more than one venue.

GOR: To several, correct.

BAXTER: That means you are participating in more than one debate?

GOR: Those are your words.

BAXTER: It just doesn't make sense to me. If you've affirmatively responded....

GOR: That's all you're going to get out of me. Rephrasing the question in different ways doesn't get you a different answer. I've said all I can. You know this, Annie, come on. We've confirmed with several venues.

BAXTER: "Affirmatively confirmed" would, to most people, mean you've said yes.

GOR: Yes.

BAXTER: I just want to make sure that's what you're saying.

GOR: Yes.

BAXTER: So it does mean more than one debate?

GOR: We've confirmed with several venues affirmatively.

BAXTER: I just don't know what you're saying. I just don't know. But I don't want to misrepresent it.

GOR: Just say: the venues will be announced when the organizers want to announce them, but yes, we have confirmed several venues.

BAXTER: Okay. And by confirmed you mean you are attending.

GOR: Correct.

BAXTER: Okay.

GOR: All right?

BAXTER: Okay.