POLITICS: SHOVING MATCH LEAVES LOCAL DEBATE DOUBTFUL

In a tug-of-war between two political giants, the voters of Southeast Missouri could come out the losers.

U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft, a Republican, and challenger Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, still can't decide when to debate in Cape Girardeau despite setting debates in St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo.

KFVS-TV announced Thursday that there would not be a live, televised debate between the two because they couldn't agree on a date. Southeast Missouri State University would have jointly sponsored the event.

"We have tried everything we could," said Howard Meagle, general manager at KFVS. "At this point it doesn't look like a debate is going to happen in Southeast Missouri. I think that is unfortunate for the people here."

The announcement threw the candidates into an exchange of accusations.

Ashcroft's communications director, David James, said KFVS sent a letter to his campaign Sept. 29 extending an invitation to debate and offering a list of available dates.

After meeting with Ashcroft's staff, Carnahan's staff accepted the five dates as suggested by the television station with a preferred date of Oct. 19 for a Cape Girardeau debate. But Meagle said the Ashcroft campaign decided the candidate could only debate on Oct. 16.

James denies that. He said a letter sent by Meagle to the Ashcroft campaign said Oct. 16 was available and remains open for the event.

The two camps have gone back and forth for days and can't seem to reach a compromise about coming to Cape Girardeau.

In a letter to Meagle written Thursday, the Ashcroft campaign said it advocated a debate in Cape Girardeau from the beginning but didn't feel that the TV station or the university were in a position to impose a date on either campaign.

James said the Carnahan campaign has been ducking the debates for more than a month.

Tony Wyche, communications director for Carnahan, said his campaign has tried to play fair and offer a compromise.

"We feel like it's in the hands of the Ashcroft campaign," he said. "They have not been willing to bargain or negotiate."

James said Ashcroft "won't negotiate with liars."

CAMPAIGN 2000

TODAY: George bush's sister, Dorothy Bush, Koch, will speak at 11 a.m. at the University Center lounge at Southeast Missouri State University.