McDonnell Challenges Deeds to 10 Debates-Updated

Republican Bob McDonnell sent a letter to Democrat Creigh Deeds this morning asking for 10 gubernatorial debates across the state.

The two have already agreed to a July 25 debate at the Homestead resort in Deeds' home county of Bath.

McDonnell sent Deeds a schedule of debates that would start July 25 and conclude with a final debate at the University of Virginia on Oct. 20, two weeks before Election Day. Each would be available on TV, radio or Internet.

"Virginians are tired of sound bite campaigns,'' McDonnell said in a statement. "They want to know where the candidates stand on the issues of today. And they want to hear this directly from the candidates."

We are awaiting a response from the Deeds campaign and will let you know when we get it.

UPDATE: Deeds said this afternoon that he is eager to debate McDonnell but he had not yet read McDonnell's press release and his campaign is evaluating the issue.

"I'm not going to let Bob McDonnell dictate my campaign schedule," he said. Deeds noted he participated in eight forums and debates during the run-up to the recent Democratic primary, outings he said helped boost his campaign from third to first place.

"I'm not afraid of debating Bob," Deeds said, but, he added, "The modern logistics of scheduling these things are tough, because you're trying to get two campaigns together."

"I think we'll probably end up with a debate schedule much like past years," he said.