Merkley camp says it invited Smith campaign to participate in debate planning process

Jeff Merkley’s campaign extended opportunities to Gordon Smith’s campaign to participate in the debate planning process, and Smith’s campaign never engaged in the process, a Merkley spokesman said Friday.

“We welcomed them to the discussions,” Merkley spokesman Matt Canter said. “But the debate planners can’t even get Brooks Kochvar to call them back.”

Canter pointed to a letter sent by Merkley campaign manager Jon Isaacs to Smith campaign manager Brooks Kochvar, saying Isaacs invited Kochvar to help set up debates with third parties.

 "Our campaign is already in discussion with planners of these debates and look forward to your participation in these discussions," Isaacs said.

Smith spokeswoman Lindsay Gilbride said that Merkley’s campaign never followed up on Kochvar’s request to call their office directly to set up a time for the two campaigns to meet together to set up dates and locations convenient to both candidates.

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