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The two candidates for the GOP congressional nomination wont face off in a debate after all.
Matthew A. Doheny and Kellie A. Greene, who will be on the GOP primary ballot Tuesday, were gearing up for a debate Saturday, but difficulties in securing a location scuttled the plan. Mr. Dohenys campaign said that he was willing to debate, while Ms. Greene said that he was dodging.
Jeremiah Maxon, of the Jefferson County Young Republicans, had told the campaigns that he would have a location for the debate by noon Tuesday. When that deadline passed without hearing from Mr. Maxon, the Doheny campaign scheduled events elsewhere.
I think what youre seeing here is a seven-day-a-week congressional campaign trying to go out and meet as many voters as possible for a crucial primary on Tuesday, said Jude R. Seymour, a spokesman for Mr. Doheny. This debate was still in the planning process, and we had something that was more firm. So we went for it.
But Ms. Greene accused Mr. Doheny of dodging the debate.
It goes without say that we are extremely disappointed that Matt Doheny has decided to dodge this important event, she said in a news release.
The campaigns also had a false start Tuesday in the town of Fine. Mr. Doheny agreed to debate there, but Ms. Greene did not, because it was too far from major media markets and because she said she never received an official invitation. A debate organizer did leave her a voice message, she said.
The debate that had been slated for Saturday was scuttled when Mr. Maxon was unable to secure a location until 10 p.m. Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, he spoke with the Doheny campaign, which informed him that it had moved on to other events because his deadline had passed.
In an email Wednesday to the campaigns and journalists, Mr. Maxon said that he had to cancel the debate with a heavy heart. He said that the Young Republicans would try to organize a debate for the Nov. 6 general election. Mr. Doheny and Ms. Greene are looking to take on Rep. William L. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, in the fall.