During Friday’s Fox 16/Talk Business senate debate, Rep. John Boozman suggested a town hall-style debate in which he and Sen. Blanche Lincoln would take questions from the audience – no notes, just microphones – even though Boozman had declined no less than seven debate offers from the Lincoln campaign. Sen. Lincoln fumbled the response a bit, saying she was willing to do it, but they would have to set something up between the campaigns. This morning, Lincoln issued a press release, not only agreeing to a debate, but proposing the candidates sit down for four such occasions, one for each congressional district. Lincoln’s campaign also reaches out to Independent candidate Trevor Drown and Green Party candidate John Gray.

“I’m delighted that Congressman Boozman has changed his mind and would like to hold an additional debate,” Lincoln said in a press release. “In fact, I propose we schedule the town hall-style debates like he proposed in each congressional district so that as many Arkansas voters as possible have the opportunity to examine our records alongside one another. I look forward to the Congressman’s reply.”

We do too. Release on the jump.

AETN will feature the candidates Oct. 13 and the Green and independent candidates also will be included. Here’s the full AETN debate schedule.


UPDATE: Boozman responds. Kind of. He says Lincoln “misconstrued” his invitation although she agreed to debates “like he proposed.” He addresses Lincoln, “I’ve hosted over 40 open-forum events across the state of Arkansas since starting my campaign, and I look forward to you joining me for your first.” Boozman’s release is on the jump. So is this a yes or a no? I’ve asked the campaign for clarification. News reports this morning said Lincoln had “upped the ante” on Boozman’s challenge. To stick with the poker lingo, it looks like she called his bluff.

UPDATE II: It looks like we’re getting into a battle over semantics now. Patrick Creamer, with the Boozman campaign, says in response, “What the Congressman proposed was not a debate, rather that Senator Lincoln join him at a town hall and take questions from the people of Arkansas. If she commits and follows through with one, then we can see where it goes from there.”


UPDATE III: Trevor Drown compliments Lincoln. Pops Boozman.