“Patty Judge has an unfortunate history of dodging debates and chronic absenteeism on the campaign trail, starving voters of critical information about where she stands on the important issues facing our state and nation,” said Grassley Committee campaign manager Bob Haus. “Instead of more politically-motivated stalling tactics, Iowans deserve Patty Judge’s prompt acceptance of this debate that all Iowans statewide would be able to access. If Patty Judge is truly concerned about the Des Moines area having a debate, she should accept WHO Radio’s invitation in a timely manner.”

Patty Judge missed five of ten debates during her primary campaign. Judge missed the Poweshiek County Democrats’ Debate on May 13, the Eastern Iowa Democrats’ Debate at St. Ambrose on May 16, the Des Moines South Side Democrats’ Debate on May 24, the Iowa City Candidate Forum on May 27 and the Waterloo Senate Forum at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on May 28. One Democratic activist described Judge as “spitting in the face of democracy.” On one occasion, Judge chose to attend out-of-state fundraisers in San Francisco and Seattle rather than sit on the same stage with her opponents. Judge even failed to respond to an invitation for a debate in Waterloo.

Senator Grassley has debated each of his opponents in past elections and in 2010 participated in two debates and is calling on Patty Judge to accept an equal number this year. In addition to the WHO radio debate, Senator Grassley has accepted a televised debate to be hosted by Quincy Media Group and broadcast on KTIV in Sioux City, KWWL in Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, KTTC in Rochester, MN (serving North Central Iowa) and WGEM in Quincy, IL (serving Southeast Iowa). The Quincy Media invitation, which will be broadcast on four television stations, and the internet, offers the opportunity to reach the greatest number of Iowans.

Grassley was also invited to participate in a debate on Iowa Public Television as he had in past cycles. Unfortunately, Judge attempted to move the debate from Des Moines where it has historically been located to Davenport, stalling negotiations and preventing an agreement on the format from being reached in a timely manner.