Elizabeth Warren today has accepted an invitation to debate U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in Worcester in her quest for the Senate seat both hope to win in November.

Mr. Brown's campaign this afternoon declined to comment on whether he will attend the Worcester invitation, but said in a press release that the senator has already accepted four debates.



The debate is being sponsored by a partnership of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Colleges of Worcester Consortium.



The partnership has suggested that the debates take place from 7 to 8 p.m. either Oct. 1 or Oct. 15 at Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, according to Richard B. Kennedy, president and chief executive officer of the chamber of commerce.



“We're hoping for very broad television coverage. And we're hoping for any regional TV station to have access to it,” Mr. Kennedy said.



Mr. Kennedy would not say who the group is hoping will moderate the proposed debate. He is in discussion with a Boston television news personality.



It is not possible to get beyond the preliminary approval stage from the hoped-for moderator until Mr. Brown and Ms. Warren both have accepted, he said.



In announcing acceptance of the invitation, Ms. Warren's campaign said, “While Warren considers it a priority to hold debates in all parts of the state, Republican Scott Brown's campaign said yesterday they wouldn't consider any other debates. Under Brown's plan, major parts of the state like Worcester and the South Coast would get shut out from hosting debates.”



Mr. Brown's campaign press secretary declined to comment on that.



The two candidates have agreed to debates sponsored by WBZ-TV in Boston; a Springfield media consortium; a Boston media consortium; and at UMass-Lowell sponsored by the Boston Herald. Mr. Brown rejected a debate co-sponsored by the Edward M Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate and UMass-Boston.



The Central Massachusetts invitation was signed by Publisher Bruce Gaultney of the Telegram & Gazette; Consortium CEO Mark Bilotta; Richard B. Kennedy, Chamber CEO and president; Mayor Joseph M. Petty; Troy Siebels, Hanover Theatre executive director; Paul Franco, chairman of the Worcester Republican City Committee; and Candy Mero Carlson, chairwoman of the Worcester Democratic City Committee.