Schmidt-Wulsin debates? Don't hold your breath

There is nothing Victoria Wulsin, the Democratic challenger in the 2nd Congressional District, would like more than a debate-a-day from now to November with Jean Schmidt.

But, as the Stones told us some time ago, you can't always get what you want.

Three televised and/or radio broadcast debates have been proposed; only one is like to happen and that will be on a Sunday morning TV talk show in October.

As for Wulsin's recent letter to Schmidt asking her to do one public debate in each of the 2nd District's seven counties, the Schmidt campaign has a simple reply: Forget about it.

Schmidt's chief of staff Barry Bennett said will spend all of September in Washington, except for the weekends, when she'll be out and about in her district.

"There are a lot of votes in September,'' Bennett said. "The federal government runs out of money Oct. 1. I can't commit her to debates on weekdays in September.''

That means Schmidt will not take part in a Sept. 18 debate with Wulsin proposed by the Cincinnati Debate Alliance, a group that includes the Enquirer, WCPO, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the League of Women Voters, among others.

Neither will she do a proposed Sept. 11 radio debate sponsored by the Adams County Business and Professional Women, Bennett said, because she will be working in D.C. that day. Plus, Bennett said, the group showed "incredible bad taste'' in scheduling a political event on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Schmidt will show up on Oct. 13 for the taping of Channel 12's Newsmakers program, which airs at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Cot. 15. By then, Congress will presumably be in recess, Bennett said.

Wulsin's idea of seven counties, seven debates, just isn't going to happen, Bennett said.

"Who'd show up anyway?,'' Bennett said.