WVHF's 9th District Debate canceled, schedules clash

The debate over debates continues in the closely watched 9th District congressional race, with one date now officially cancelled.\nDavid Smith, general manager for Indiana 9 WVHF in Jeffersonville, Ind., sent out an e-mail to all three candidates last week informing them that all plans for a debate there had been cancelled because of scheduling conflicts.\nThe Jeffersonville debate was originally scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1, but Rep. Mike Sodrel, R-9th, would not commit, in case Congress is in session and he could not make it, Sodrel campaign spokesman Cam Savage said.\n"Majority Leader (John Boehner) told us to be prepared to work," Savage said. "They usually end up trying to work around the clock to finish up (the session)."\nWVHF attempted to move the debate to Oct. 15, but that date was unavailable. Democratic challenger Baron Hill's campaign accused Sodrel of trying to avoid another debate.\n"According to the majority leader, the session is targeted to end Friday," Hill spokeswoman Melanie Morris said. "He said it could go into Friday, but that's rare. We're disappointed. We don't understand why (Sodrel) used this excuse unless he's trying to avoid the debate."\nInstead of a debate, Hill and Libertarian candidate Eric Schansberg are considering a town hall-style meeting Oct. 1 in New Albany.\nSchansberg said in an e-mail that he is willing to speak at the meeting or any other debate to which he is invited.\nSavage said Sodrel is considering proposals to debate on local radio station WGCL, as well as an invitation to debate in Jasper, Ind., Nov. 1.\nThis is the third time Hill and Sodrel have faced off for the 9th District seat. Hill was the district's congressman from 1998 until 2004, when Sodrel defeated him by fewer than 1,500 votes.