Nels is ready and willing to debate Steve Buyer, but Steve Buyer isn’t so sure. In this Frankfort Times article, the 16-year incumbent makes it clear that he’s far from eager to meet his challenger in public:

Halfway home.

The Times’ joint effort to sponsor a debate within Clinton County between U.S. Congressman Steve Buyer (R IN-4) and his Democratic challenger, Nels Ackerson, has one of the candidates ready to participate.

“I am in favor of multiple debates and I know the people are in favor of multiple debates,” said Ackerson, during a break from touring the Clinton County and 4-H Fair on Thursday. “There are too many important issues to just allow people to send out press releases and tell their own story.

“That’s important, but it’s also important to be submitting to questions, and going back-and-forth with persons having differing views.”

Buyer, however, has yet to commit to participating in a debate within Clinton County, an area solely represented in U.S. Congress by the eight-term incumbent.

The Times sent a letter to Buyer’s Monticello office in June, requesting his participation in a debate.

After no answer, an e-mail was sent on Wednesday, and a phone call made on Thursday to Buyer’s Communication Director, Anjulen Anderson.

“As the Congressman thinks the invitation for a debate is worthy of consideration, the Congressman has always discussed debates amongst the campaigns in the fall,” Anderson wrote in an e-mail response to a Times’ request to speak to Buyer about a possible debate.