First Posted: 6/26/2008

BILL O ’ BOYLE

[email protected]
HAZLETON – The gauntlet has been thrown down in the 11th District congressional race.

Republican Lou Barletta challenged his opponent, 12-term incumbent Democrat Paul E. Kanjorski, to a series of debates.
Kanjorski campaign spokesman Ed Mitchell said the two will debate but didn’t respond to Barletta’s invitation to participate in six debates on local radio throughout the summer, followed by public debates this fall in the five counties that make up the district.
“There has been a great deal of rhetoric in this campaign about who is willing to speak on the issues and who is not,” Barletta said in a prepared release. “This is a chance for Congressman Kanjorski and me to stop the rhetoric and debate the issues. If Congressman Kanjorski would like to debate other issues, I am open to it.”
Mitchell said the congressman stands by a statement he made on WVIA-TV during the winter. At that time, Kanjorski said he “looked forward to debating Mr. Barletta on the issues,” Mitchell said.
“You must understand, though, Mr. Barletta would like all these debates because his candidacy is not getting traction,” Mitchell said. “He’s not raising money to get his message out, so he’s got to rely on these types of free venues like debates and newspaper stories to get publicity. People are just not flocking to support Mr. Barletta, especially with their donations.”
According to the Federal Election Commission, Kanjorski has more than $1.8 million in cash for his campaign. Barletta reports $154,485 on hand, and the FEC report shows he carries debt of $161,242. Barletta said contributions have increased recently and that people from all 50 states have sent donations to his campaign.
Mitchell said the Kanjorski camp has received several invitations “from many quarters” to debate Barletta, and all are being considered.
Barletta, the mayor of Hazleton, sent a letter to Kanjorski challenging him to six debates on WILK radio, each 30-45 minutes in length.
Last year, after losing her bid for the Republican mayoral nomination in Hazleton, Dee Deakos accused Barletta of refusing to debate. Barletta defeated Deakos, 1,363 to 83 in the primary. Barletta said Deakos’ offer was made near the end of the campaign. He said he debated every opponent he faced since 1998, including Kanjorski in 2002.
“I wasn’t afraid to debate her,” Barletta said. “There just wasn’t enough time left before the primary, where I received 96 percent of the vote.”
Barletta spokesman Shawn Kelly said each debate would focus on a single issue, such as Social Security, the economy, energy, the Iraq war and foreign affairs, illegal immigration and health care.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.