INDReporter

KLFY to air only locally broadcast Senate debate

by Nathan Stubbs

Local CBS affiliate, KLFY TV-10 will air the only debate between U.S. Senate candidates to be broadcast statewide tonight, Thursday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. Local CBS affiliate, KLFY TV-10 will air the only debate between U.S. Senate candidates to be broadcast statewide tonight, Thursday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. The New Orleans debate is being hosted by WWL-TV and moderated by anchor Dennis Woltering. Questions will come from a panel of TV journalists from across the state including Blue Rolfes of KLFY, Sally-Ann Roberts from WWL, Greg Meriwether of WAFB in Baton Rouge, Jeff Ferrell of KSLA in Shreveport and John Denison of KNOE in Monroe. The debate will feature only the two frontrunner candidates, incumbent Republican David Vitter and Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon. The election is Nov. 2; overall, 11 candidates are challenging Vitter.

Tonight's debate comes on the heels of a forum last night, televised only in the New Orleans area, featuring Vitter, Melancon and four other challengers. In advance of the debates, the state Democratic Party issued a desperate plea this week for the media to "stand up" to Vitter and ask him the tough questions. "We're asking Louisiana's notoriously timid press corps to show that they are not intimidated by David Vitter," state party spokesman Kevin Frank said in a statement Monday. "For years now, Louisiana reporters have let David Vitter walk all over them, now finally a few of the state's most senior journalists will have a chance to ask David Vitter the questions he's been avoiding." The state Republican party has since responded in kind, with a list of 15 questions the press needs to challenge Melancon on.