Kucinich wants to go mano a mano

Dennis Kucinich has challenged Hillary Clinton and John Edwards each to debate him one on one.

He has been on the warpath since the two were caught on open mics yesterday at the NAACP debate, apparently proposing to have debates without the long-shot candidates. Edwards said they should "try to have a more serious and smaller group" and Clinton agreed: "We have got to cut the number." (The conversation was partially unintelligible.)

Kucinich shot identical letters to Clinton and Edwards late this afternoon: "If you are truly seeking debates where there are fewer participants and where there is more meaningful and serious discourse, this is a great opportunity for us to join together in ... an open discussion on behalf of the American people."

Full text of the Clinton letter after the jump. (The Edwards letter is the same except for the salutation.)

Friday – July 13, 2007

The Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton

United States Senate

476 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator,

Now that it has become abundantly clear to the American people that some of our colleagues prefer to shut off debate about the crucial issues facing the next president of the United States, I respectfully challenge you to a formal public debate.

My proposal is that we engage in a direct one-on-one debate on the most critical issues facing the American people: the war in Iraq; healthcare, trade and the environment.

Rather than a mere forum restricted to 60 second answers that must avoid any critique of the history and positions of other participants, I am challenging you to a debate in the classical style. With America's constitutional democracy shaping and defining the essence of our government, the American people deserve no less.

If you are truly seeking debates where there are fewer participants and where there is more meaningful and serious discourse, this is a great opportunity for us to join together in and an open discussion on

behalf of the American people.

Thank you,

Sincerely Yours,



Dennis J. Kucinich