POLITICS: CARNAHAN, ASHCROFT OK DEBATE DATES

John Ashcroft and Mel Carnahan offer different opinions politically, but the two have finally agreed on one thing -- to meet for two broadcast debates before the Nov. 7 general election.

Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, hopes to unseat John Ashcroft, a Republican, in a hotly contested U.S. Senate race.

After several days of impasse, both campaigns announced Tuesday that two debates had been accepted and the possibility exists for another in Cape Girardeau.

Ashcroft and Carnahan will debate Oct. 13 at a St. Louis radio station and again Oct. 15 in Kansas City, Mo.

Details on a third debate, this one at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, remain sketchy. Ashcroft wants it on Oct. 16, but the Carnahan campaign prefers Oct. 19. The debate would air live on KFVS-TV, channel 12, and would be sponsored by the station. A spokesman for the university said it couldn't announce any sponsorship until a schedule had been agreed upon.

Mike Beecher, news director at KFVS, said five dates are being considered by both campaigns and an agreement should be reached by noon today.

Ashcroft's campaign spokesman said Monday that an apology was necessary before any debate talks continued because Carnahan had lied in a weekend press statement that said three debates had been accepted.

Carnahan issued no apology.

"We had nothing to apologize for," said Sara Howard, deputy communications director for the campaign.

The campaign issued a statement late Saturday that said three dates had been acceptable to both parties. That statement was issued after the campaign office had received phone calls from reporters who said the Ashcroft campaign was releasing information about debates, Howard said.

"We have debates scheduled, and we need to put this silliness behind us and talk about the issues. That's what the voters are concerned about," Howard said.

David James, communications director for the Ashcroft campaign, said Ashcroft would prefer four debates before the election, and invited Carnahan to join a debate Oct. 12 on Missourinet, a network of 65 radio stations in the state.

"We've made it clear that we want many debates broadcast to large audiences so that voters can compare these two candidates," he said.

The two men have had joint appearances at Boys State in Warrensburg, Mo., a Community Crime Forum in Kansas City and a meeting of medical societies in St. Louis.

Debate schedule

* Oct. 13, KMOX radio, St. Louis, 2 to 3 p.m.

* Oct. 15, KCPT-TV, Kansas City, Mo. 7 to 8 p.m.

* Date to be decided, KFVS-TV, Cape Girardeau, 7 to 8 p.m.