JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The campaigns for Missouri's two major party candidates for the U.S. Senate continue to haggle over a debate schedule, but so far only one debate has been set.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan and Republican Jim Talent have agreed to face off in Columbia, Mo., on Oct. 24 in a forum sponsored by the Associated Press and the Missouri Press Association. The two candidates have been invited to numerous other debates, including one at Southeast Missouri State University that now appears unlikely to happen.

In a conference call with political reporters from around the state on Tuesday, Talent campaign manager Lloyd Smith said his boss has been seeking debates since the spring, but time is running short with just six weeks until Election Day.

"We want to make sure everyone in the state has the chance to see these candidates side by side," Smith said.

No response

However, Carnahan campaign spokesman Tony Wyche said the senator has agreed to a schedule of four debates and has received no response from Talent.

"Jim Talent was telling folks a month ago that he would debate any time, any place, anywhere," Wyche said. "But when we offer up a list of debates, they won't accept. It seems they would rather have a debate about debates than debate about issues."

In addition to the already-agreed-upon Columbia event, Carnahan has agreed to debate on KLIK radio in Jefferson City in late September, an Oct. 21 event in St. Louis sponsored by the Post-Dispatch and television stations KMOV and KETC and on Kansas City Public Television on Oct. 30.

No correspondence

Smith said the Talent campaign had not been contacted by Carnahan's representatives concerning those events.

"We have not seen any correspondence from the Carnahan campaign to this shop," Smith said. "If you look at the record, it's pretty clear who is trying to avoid debates, and it isn't Jim Talent."

When repeatedly pressed during the conference call, Smith declined to commit to the proposed St. Louis debate, saying only that Talent would commit to an Oct. 6 debate in Springfield, Mo.

Southeast Missouri State University officials first proposed a Cape Girardeau debate in April. Cable station C-SPAN had agreed to televise the event in prime time, live if possible.

Smith said Talent would still like to participate in such an event. When asked if a debate at Southeast was still possible, Wyche would only say Carnahan has "accepted the four we know we can do."

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608