Cotton Accepts Two Televised Debates

Cotton Accepts Two Televised Debates

Cotton agrees to debates in Little Rock and Jonesboro where candidates would directly question each other

 Little Rock, Arkansas —

U.S. Senate candidate Tom Cotton announced today he has accepted invitations to debate Senator Mark Pryor in Little Rock and Jonesboro and reiterated his call for Senator Pryor to join him in a series of five "Lincoln-Douglas" style debates across Arkansas. 

Cotton has accepted a proposal for a debate from KATV Channel 7 to be held in Little Rock at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Cotton also accepted a proposal for a debate in Jonesboro sponsored by the Northeast Arkansas Political Animals Club, the Jonesboro Chamber Government Affairs Committee, and KAIT Region 8 News. Both debates feature a format in which the two candidates will directly question each other for a portion of the program.

Cotton said: "Arkansas voters deserve debates that allow the candidates to substantively address the important issues in this campaign. I'm prepared to debate Senator Pryor in every corner of this state in a format that will allow us to freely contrast our competing visions for Arkansas and America. I hope Senator Pryor will join me in participating not only in these two debates in Little Rock and Jonesboro, but also in other similar debates around the state.

Last month Cotton challenged Senator Pryor to a series of five one-on-one "Lincoln-Douglas" style debates in five regions across Arkansas. The Cotton campaign still intends to participate in three more debates with Senator Pryor in addition to the debates in Little Rock and Jonesboro. Dates for the two debates have not yet been finalized. As of Thursday, Senator Pryor had not yet announced any intention to participate. 

Background:

In April, Tom Cotton Challenged Senator Mark Pryor To A Series Of Five "Lincoln-Douglas" Style Debates. "U.S. Senate candidate Republican Tom Cotton challenged incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor to a series of five “Lincoln-Douglas style” debates to be held in different regions across Arkansas. Cotton said voters deserve a chance to hear directly from the candidates in a one-one-one setting without the filter of journalists and media personalities." (Roby Brock, "Cotton Challenges Pryor To A Series Of 5 Regional Debates," Talk Business, 4/13/14)