Chattanooga attorney Chuck Fleischmann, a Republican seeking East Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District seat, might accept Democratic contender John's Wolfe's challenge to debate.
But a Fleischmann spokesman said it is too early to tell where and how many times.
Fleischmann strategist Chip Saltsman said this week he assumes there will be a debate, though the campaign is focused on pulling the party together after a bitterly fought Aug. 5 GOP primary election.
Fleischmann begins a three-day "thank you" tour of the district's 11 counties today, starting at 10 a.m. at the Hamilton County Republican Party headquarters at 316 N. Market St.
"We'll talk about debates as we get a little closer to November," Saltsman said.
Wolfe, also a Chattanooga attorney, said he wants to debate Fleischmann in all 11 counties so voters across the district can compare the candidates and get to know them better. The district stretches from the Georgia to Kentucky state lines and includes Chattanooga, Cleveland and Oak Ridge.
"It's not like we both had some sort of (voter) stampede toward us," Wolfe said.
In the Republican primary, Fleischmann finished first in an 11-candidate field with 30 percent of the vote. Wolfe captured 39 percent of the vote in the four-person Democratic primary.
Fleischmann, a political newcomer, and Wolfe, who ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic nominee in 2002 and 2004, square off in the Nov. 2 general election.
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said few front-runners such as Fleischmann are "foolish" enough to agree to a debate. He said many front-runners believe there is no point is risking a gaffe or giving an underfunded challenger "free exposure."
The 3rd District is conservative and heavily favors a Republican candidate, Sabato said.
Fleischmann spent more than $700,000 of his own money in winning the GOP primary. Wolfe did not raise or spend the $5,000 minimum required to file a Federal Election Commission campaign finance report.
Claudia Lever, voter service chairwoman for the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, said the group hopes to conduct a forum with Fleischmann and Wolfe in late September.
She said the league wants its forum to be held sometime after the Sept. 14 debate in Cookville, Tenn., between the gubernatorial candidates, Republican Bill Haslam and Democrat Mike McWherter.
Lever said the league has received a commitment from Wolfe and hopes Fleischmann will attend.
"He may think he can do better without us," she said, "but I think it will be helpful to the people up here to hear from both of them."
Wolfe, 56, joked that the 47-year-old Fleischmann might benefit if the two are together at public events.
"He's younger and not overweight like I am," Wolfe said.
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Article: Fleischmann hopes to unify GOP after bitter election battle