Abbott backs out of debate, commits to new one



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AUSTIN -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott on Friday backed out of a debate with Democratic rival Wendy Davis, setting off a series of events casting uncertainty on whether voters will see the candidates on the same stage more than once before Election Day.

Hours after Abbott withdrew from a debate Sept. 30 in Dallas, the attorney general's campaign said it had accepted an invitation to a new debate on the same date in the same city. Davis' campaign held firm on her commitment to the original event, saying its hosts would like to meet after the weekend to sort out the mess.

Earlier this summer, the campaigns settled on having a debate Sept. 19 in the Rio Grande Valley and Sept. 30 in Dallas. On Friday morning, Abbott adviser Robert Black told WFAA, one of the hosts of the original debate in Dallas, that Abbott was pulling out. His campaign later cited an "inability to agree on a suitable format."

The Davis campaign pounced on Abbott's cancellation as proof that he's running scared, with spokesman Zac Petkanas calling it "nothing short of an insult to the voters of Texas." As Democratic criticism rolled in, Abbott told the Chronicle his campaign was talking with other TV stations about hosting a debate that does not focus on the roundtable discussion that WFAA wanted to use.

"I'm ready, willing and looking forward to debating the issues that are important to the people of Texas," Abbott said.

Abbott's team announced Friday afternoon it had committed to a new debate Sept. 30 in Dallas, this one hosted by KERA, NBC5/KXAS-TV, Telemundo 39 and The Dallas Morning News. KERA managing editor Shelley Kofler said the station had proposed a debate between the candidates earlier this year and re-extended the invitations as the campaigns' talks with WFAA broke down.

The Davis campaign fired back that Abbott's "commitments don't mean very much," reiterating her commitment to the original debate in Dallas. Petkanas said the hosts of that event -- WFAA and the Texas Tribune -- have asked to meet with the campaigns Tuesday "to discuss options given the recent developments."

The candidates are still set to face off Sept. 19 in the Rio Grande Valley. The debate there will be held in Edinburg and air on all Telemundo and Sinclair stations in Texas.