Carnahan camp says two debates accepted

U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan's campaign said Tuesday she has agreed to two late-October debates with Republican challenger Jim Talent. Talent's campaign pressed for more and earlier faceoffs.

Talent, a former congressman from St. Louis County, has accepted eight debate invitations and would consider more, said campaign manager Lloyd Smith.

Mrs. Carnahan said she might agree to more debates so long as they don't conflict with the Senate's schedule, which calls for the chamber to be in session at least until Oct. 4.

"I don't think I should miss work to do a debate," Mrs. Carnahan said in a weekend interview with The Associated Press. "I think I should be there until the session ends."

Carnahan adviser Tony Wyche said the senator agreed to debate Talent on any of these dates proposed by St. Louis media organizations: Oct. 17, Oct. 21 or Oct. 30. Those were the only dates at low risk of conflicting with Senate business, he said.

Smith noted that the sponsors also offered Sept. 5 and Sept. 19 as possible dates, and that Talent's campaign prefers Sept. 19.

"We are going to debate earlier, with or without Mrs. Carnahan," Smith said.

For example, Mrs. Carnahan has declined an invitation to appear jointly with Talent on Sept. 27 before the annual convention of the Missouri Press Association at Lake of the Ozarks. Talent will be there, Smith said.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, KMOX radio and public television station KETC are co-sponsoring the St. Louis debate, said Post-Dispatch media relations manager Matt Davis.