UL political science professor Ryan Teten says that a proposed U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Charlie Melancon and incumbent Republican David Vitter is officially off.
Update: The Oct. 26 debate in Baton Rouge has also been cancelled because Vitter has declined to participate
UL political science professor Ryan Teten says that a proposed U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Charlie Melancon and incumbent Republican David Vitter is officially off. Teten had been trying to schedule the debate, along with local ABC affiliate KATC, for Monday, Oct. 18 or Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Angelle Hall but were unable to get a commitment from the Vitter campaign. Teten says KATC has worked out an arrangement to broadcast a Melancon-Vitter debate scheduled for Oct. 26 in Baton Rouge. KLFY plans to broadcast one from New Orleans on Oct. 28.
"Once Vitter kind of decided he didn't want to do the debate here, everything else just got completely cancelled," Teten says. "I was frustrated because it looks like Lafayette is not going to have any kind of live address from Vitter or Melancon now, but that was their decision."