Failure to debate brings Boswell flak

Thursday, May 8, 2008

(WCF Courier)By CHARLOTTE EBY, Courier Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES --- With the primary election less than a month away, it appears voters in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District won't get a chance to measure the candidates side-by-side in a debate.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell so far has not agreed to debates with challenger Ed Fallon, citing scheduling conflicts.

Fallon, a former state representative, said he has accepted invitations to 10 debates, including one sponsored by KCCI-TV and the Des Moines Register.

Fallon said it is "somewhat unprecedented" for a congressman to decline all debates.

"Boswell does not want to have an open discussion of the issues, because voters, especially Democratic primary voters, are clearly much more in my camp on the issues," Fallon said.

Fallon has criticized Boswell for his vote authorizing the use of force in Iraq and in favor of the Patriot Act, and his record on environmental issues.

Boswell campaign spokesman Mark Daley said the Boswell campaign did not want to agree to that debate, which would have been held in the week before the June 3 primary, because it would have given them little time to respond to any allegations Fallon raised.

An alternative date six days earlier would have conflicted with Boswell's duties in Congress, including possible votes on a supplemental spending bill and the latest farm bill, Daley said.

"We think it's important that he's there to vote on those issues for Iowa," Daley said.

Fallon, a former state lawmaker, ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2006 before deciding to take on Boswell, who was first elected to Congress in 1996.