Booker Agrees To Pair Of Debates In U.S. Senate Run

Newark Mayor Cory Booker will participate in just two debates in the compressed run-up for a U.S. Senate seat, his campaign announced Thursday.

That irks his competitors.

Booker, who has a double-digit lead over the field of four Democratic hopefuls, has agreed to debate his party’s candidates on two August dates – a televised debate on Aug. 5 on NJTV, and three days later on WBGO Radio, Newark Public Radio.

Booker is competing against U.S. Reps. Rush Holt and Frank Pallone and state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat of late Sen. Frank Lautenberg. The Democratic primary is set for Aug. 13, with a special election scheduled for Oct. 16, a Wednesday.

But two debates aren’t enough, according to Holt’s camp.

“It’s unsettling,’’ said Thomas Seay, a spokesman for Holt. “Somehow, political consultants have taken a man who once ran into a burning building and convinced him to run away from policy debates.”

Pallone has agreed to three additional debates spread throughout the state, including one run by the League of Women Voters in Trenton on July 27, according to a statement.

“With this expedited time frame for voters to choose who would best represent them in the Senate it becomes even more important for all four candidates to debate the issues as much as possible,” said Jennifer Godoski, Pallone spokeswoman. “We are hoping the other candidates will also join us at the other debates we have accepted.”

The Oliver campaign could not be reached for comment Thursday.

But Booker’s campaign is set with the two debates only, according to a statement.

“These two debates will give New Jersey voters the opportunity to compare the candidates’ ideas for improving people’s lives, as well as their records for delivering results,” Booker campaign manager Addisu Demissie said in the statement. “With just 47 days before the vote, it also allows all the candidates the opportunity to devote their time to making their case directly to New Jersey voters in cities and towns across the state.”

Booker’s campaign cited precedent for the two-debate decision, saying that Lautenberg in 2008 faced off against U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews and former Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello in one radio and one televised debate.

“Despite the unusual and shortened calendar for this year’s special election campaign, Mayor Booker has agreed to the same number of debates,” Demissie said.

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