U.S. Senator Russ Feingold says he’s willing to participate in several debates with his eventual Republican opponent.
Feingold has accepted invitations to six candidate debates, and wants the eventual Republican nominee to join him. The Wisconsin Democrat says such debates are part of the Wisconsin tradition, and TV ads alone should not be used to decide the election.
Feingold will likely face Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson, who is seen as the Republican front-runner heading into the primary. Johnson, Dave Westlake of Watertown and Stephen Finn of Milwaukee are all seeking the GOP nomination in next Tuesday’s primary.
Johnson has run several negative ads attacking Feingold as a career politician, which the Senator says he would look forward to addressing. Feingold says he’d like him to explain to his face why being a career politician makes him unworthy to continue to serve in the Senate.
The debates could take place in several locations around Wisconsin. Invitations he’s accepted include for debates in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Wausau, Oshkosh, and Madison.
Johnson’s campaign says the candidate looks forward to debating Senator Feingold, if he wins the nomination. However, a spokeswoman would not comment on a specific number of debates Johnson would be willing to participate in.