Blunt OKs Springfield debate; no to St. Louis

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican Matt Blunt has agreed to a televised gubernatorial debate against Democrat Claire McCaskill in his hometown of Springfield but has turned down a similar offer in the traditional Democratic stronghold of St. Louis. The Springfield debate is to occur Oct. 22. The St. Louis debate had been proposed for Oct. 25 -- about a week before the Nov. 2 general election. "The problem with the St. Louis televised debate is that the final week of our campaign has long since been planned," Blunt spokesman John Hancock said Thursday while declining to describe more specifically what Blunt plans to do.

-- From wire reports