Joe Gerth

Centre College is hoping to play host to a debate between U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Alison Lundergan Grimes.

The college, which was the site of vice presidential debates in 2000 and 2012, is offering its facilities in hope that it will draw what could be the biggest event of the 2014 election cycle.

The debate would be held Sept. 3 at the college in Danville and telecast by WAVE television in Louisville. WAVE has secured a deal with broadcast partners around the state to carry the debate live.

The station said that anchors Shannon Cogan and Scott Reynolds would be available to moderate the debate.

So far, McConnell and Grimes have not been able to agree on any debates. McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, has said he would only debate under certain conditions — if there is no audience and there are no questioners other than the candidates themselves. He also wants the debates to be held before Labor Day, which is Sept. 1.

He agreed to debate at WDRB television in Louisville last month but the debate was canceled when Grimes, Kentucky's Democratic secretary of state, said she wouldn't attend under his conditions.

Her campaign has said that she wants to debate McConnell but that she wants the debate open to the public. She also agreed to debate McConnell on Kentucky Educational Television, whose debates don't usually have an audience but are moderated by Bill Goodman, who generally questions candidates in such events.

McConnell hasn't said if he would attend that debate.

"I think Kentuckians want a debate," Centre President John Roush during a news conference at the school, according to WAVE. "We hope to provide a venue where the voters can get to know the candidates and learn more about their positions."

The proposed Centre College debate would be co-hosted by AARP.

"While the national focus will be intense, we are committed to making this Senatorial Debate about Kentuckians and for Kentuckians," AARP Kentucky State Director Ron Bridges said in a statement.

Centre College wants the debate held after Sept. 1 so that students would be on campus and able to participate.

The McConnell camp was non-committal.

"Sen. McConnell greatly appreciates Centre College's interest in hosting a debate. Centre has an outstanding reputation for hosting world-class debates and we look forward to reviewing their proposal," campaign spokeswoman Allison Moore said in a statement.

The Grimes campaign used the Centre debate proposal to take a shot at McConnell.

"Our campaign greatly appreciates Centre College's invitation. We continue to stand ready and committed to debating Mitch McConnell. As we have outlined, we welcome the opportunity to debate in all corners of the Commonwealth and believe all Kentuckians should be able to participate in the process," campaign manager Jonathan Hurst said. "McConnell's campaign must stop the games. Unfortunately, Mitch McConnell thinks he owns this Senate seat and hasn't found the time to ... sit down and negotiate with our campaign."

Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Gerth.