UPDATED: Democrat Beth Macy challenges Rep. Ben Cline to three public debates, Cline accepts the challange
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Roanoke-based author Beth Macy, who is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Ben Cline in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, has challenged him to three debates between now and the November election.
Macy proposed the debates through certified mail to Cline’s campaign and requested a response by Aug. 24.
Late Monday afternoon, Cline said in a statement from campaign advisor Tim Murtaugh, that he would accept the challenge.
"Ben has debated all three of his previous opponents and looks forward to debating his current opponent as well," Murtaugh said.
In a press release Monday morning, Macy proposed three in-person debates, one each in Roanoke, Harrisonburg and Winchester, to be held between Sept. 25 and Nov. 1.
“Debates in major races used to be much more commonplace,” said J. Miles Coleman, Associate Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at The Center for Politics at UVa. “These …