Karen Boothe, 9/18/96 Republican Senate Candidate Rudy Boschwitz is refusing to participate in any three way debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters that include Reform Party Candidate Dean Barkley.

Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports:

Boschwitz STILL plans to face off against the Senator in a few debates where Barkley wasn't invited, but is refusing to participate in engagements scheduled by the League of Women Voters where Barkley HAS been invited unless five OTHER minority candidates are invited too. As Boschwitz told reporters earlier this week, it's NOT that he's opposed to debating Barkley per se:

Bite:2393 :18 secs "who put the debates together."

And THAT's the point...the League of Women Voters HAS made a decision for its series of four debates. The League has determined it is it's LEGAL responsibility to include Barkley since the Reform Party is now a bonified MAJOR party in this state. League Spokeswoman Virginia Sweeney:

Bite:2425 :28-secs "in a statewide election."

Sweeney says other minor candidates can ALSO qualify if, in legitimate public opinion surveys, they obtain at least a five percent approval rating...but no other candidates have so far achieved that this year. Boschwitz campaign manager Jon Lerner says debates should limited only to candidates who have a realistic chance of winning. Bite: 2426 :25-secs "or similar standard"

Lerner says Boschwitz won't debate anyone after October 20-th because the final days of the campaign should be used for grassroots campaigning.

Reform Party Candidate Dean Barkley calls the decision "gutless." Reached while campaigning in northwestern Minnesota, Barkley said the big losers are the voters:

Bite: 2390 :38-secs "an indictment on rudy boschwitz."

Barkley says he applauds the League for standing up to its democratic principles, and criticizes those debate sponsors, who HE says have given in to pressure to exclude him.

As for the League of Women Voters...spokeswoman Virginia Sweeney says the League is not discouraged by this, it will simply continue to do what it's BEEN doing since 1920: Bite: 2430 "30-secs "as a sponsor"

League of Women Voters Spokeswoman Virginia Sweeney.

Senator Paul Wellstone and challenger Rudy Boschwitz are next scheduled to square off in a televised debate September 29-th. SOC