Debate over debates begins...

No one could be particularly surprised at the challenge issued by 2nd District Democratic congressional candidate Steve Black to Victoria Wulsin to have a series of seven debates in the seven-county district.



And no one should be surprised that the Wulsin campaign pretty much blew it off.



Black is the underdog in this race; Wulsin is the candidate who took on Jean Schmidt in 2006 and very nearly caught up with her. Underdogs like debates; those who are being challenged by underdogs generally do not.



Wulsin liked them well enough in 2006, though. Black's challenge was pretty much the same one Wulsin issued to Schmidt, who, as incumbents are wont to do, ignored her.



Clearly, though, the seven-debate notion has lost its appeal to Wulsin.



Josh Levin, Wulsin's campaign manager, said it is not likely that Democratic voters in the 2nd District will be wanting for opportunities to hear the candidates deliver their messages - they've already been together at 11 events on the campaign trail. Not debates, but places where both of them showed up at the same time, spoke, and answered questions. Levin said another such joint appearance will take place Monday night in Batavaia.