Senator Mitch McConnell appeared on several talk radio shows to discuss the response to Hurricane Gustav and the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Senator McConnell with Tony Cruise

Senator McConnell with Jack Pattie

As announced yesterday, Senator McConnell has accepted the debate invitation from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Republican Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democrat Bruce Lunsford have agreed to debate Lincoln/Douglas style Sept. 13 in Northern Kentucky.

The debate will be at 8:30 a.m. at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center, 1379 Donaldson Road, Erlanger.

Under the format, Lunsford and McConnell would debate in a more open style than typical political debates, arguing issues and trading questions with one another rather than taking questions from a moderator or panelists. The style is named for the famed debates that took place during the 1858 U.S. Senate race in Illinois between Republican Abraham Lincoln and Democrat Stephen Douglas.

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"We're excited they have accepted," said Steve Stevens, president of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which helped organize the debate. "We think it will be a lot more interesting with the candidates asking each other questions, and then debating the answers. They can ask anything they want."

Even though the hour-long event is on a Saturday morning, organizers expect a big crowd.

"We anticipate a full house," Stevens said. "Everybody does traditional debates. I think this going to be more appealing. Plus, we really wanted to get the candidates to come to Northern Kentucky. So we're glad we could pull it off."

 

Remember the debate between Abe Lincoln and rival Stephen Douglas in 1858 in Illinois? Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R, and Democrat Bruce Lunsford, will be using a similar format to debate the issues before Northern Kentucky.

Rather than answering a moderator’s questions, Lunsford and McConnell will argue issues with each other.

On Sept. 13, the two candidates will throw down at Receptions Banquet and Conference Center, 1379 Donaldson Road in Erlanger, Ky., at 8:30 a.m.

For tickets or more information, call the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce at (859) 578-8800.