Marino wants nine debates

Republican Tom Marino is on the attack in the 10th Congressional District, all but demanding Congressman Chris Carney’s (D-10) participation in nine, one-hour debates. The Marino camp says the debates will turn the race into a true battle of ideologies, one that would inherently favor a Republican in the conservative-leaning, northeast Pennsylvania district.

Marino’s debate challenge came in a letter to Carney’s campaign, accompanied by e-mail blasts to supporters and the press.

The letter, written by Marino campaign manager Dave Weber, requests a response by July 22.

“We’ve made it explicitly clear that we will work with Congressman Carney’s campaign to set up the debates,” Weber told pa2010.com. “We will work around his schedule and do whatever we can to make this work. ”

Carney’s campaign signaled that nine debates are unlikely.

“Congressman Carney visits every county in the district multiple times a year and holds town halls throughout the region,” campaign manager Max Cummings said in an e-mail. “His door is always open to anyone with a question or concern. And as he has in the past, the congressman plans on participating in at least one debate.”

July 15, 2010 at 9:12 am

--John Manganaro

Tags: Chris Carney, PA-10, Tom Marino