Marshall, Cunningham agree to two televised debates



Democratic US Senate candidates Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham have agreed to participate in two televised debates prior to the June 22 runoff election.

The first televised debate will be held at WRAL-TV in Raleigh on June 10. The debate will be made available to all CBS affiliates statewide, said Thomas Mills, a spokesman for the Marshall campaign. The second debate will be sponsored by WNCN-TV and the League of Women Voters and will held in Raleigh. It will be available to all NBC affiliates statewide. Coverage of both debates will also be available via the internet.

The Cunningham campaign has criticized Marshall for not engaging in more debates around the state. Last week, Cunningham sent an open letter to Marshall, in which he stated:

“I’m committed to a full, open and vigorous campaign debate schedule for both the primary and general elections. I ask you to join me in utilizing this runoff opportunity to continue to highlight Richard Burr’s out-of-step record and showcase the two potential Democratic nominees against him. I trust that you share this commitment to the people of North Carolina – and I hope that you reconsider your recent decision.”

Marshall declined an invitation to appear in a June 2 debate on WWAY-TV in Wilmington, said Mills. Marshall has not yet officially responded to debate invitations from WTVD-TV in Durham and Jim Longworth’s show, “Triad Today,” on ABC45.

“We think it’s important not just to have debates on as many TV stations as possible but to have those debates in as many regions of the states as possible — to have the candidates speak directly with voters ,” said Jared Leopold, a spokesman for the Cunningham campaign. “We’re trying to understand why the Marshall campaign wouldn’t share that goal.”

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