By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com
U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak will debate his Republican counterparty Pat Toomey in Philadelphia on April 11, five weeks before the southeast congressman faces Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary, his campaign said Monday.
The two Senate challengers had agreed to debate each other before the primary after Specter declined repeated invitations to square off against Sestak. The senator, who also unexpectedly debated Sestak in early February at the state Democratic Party’s endorsement meeting, has said he would agree to hold only one debate, in Philadelphia.
Sestak used the incumbent’s reluctance to debate as evidence he’s part of the old-style political system that doesn’t believe in openness and transparency.
“The voters deserve to hear the candidates’ views of the economy and our plans to put Pennsylvania back to work,” Sestak said in a statement.”I am disappointed that Arlen Specter continues to refuse his basic duty as a public servant to state his views clearly and honestly and be accountable to the people.
“However, I appreciate that Pat is ready, willing, and able to engage in the kind of discussion that Pennsylvanians deserve to hear at this critical time in our recovery,” he said.
The debate, which will be held at La Salle University, will focus on the economy. It will be an opportunity for both candidates to earn coverage in the state’s most populous media market, important for each as they try to raise their still relatively low name identification.
Tags: Arlen Specter, Arlen Specter for Senate, Joe Sestak, Joe Sestak for Senate, Pat Toomey, Pat Toomey for Senate
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