Reid and Angle debate about debates

Democratic Sen. Harry Reid and his Republican opponent Sharron Angle both say they're ready to debate.

But first they're debating about exactly when and where to meet face to face. The Reid campaign announced Wednesday plans to participate in two October debates - one in Reno and one in Las Vegas. But the Angle campaign said Reid doesn't have the right to "dictate when, where, how and who" will host the debates without consulting Angle, first.

"Absolutely, we are agreeing to debate," Angle spokesman Jerry Stacy said, noting that Angle has been asking for debates since she won the June 8 GOP primary.

"When Reid's camp finally agrees to face our camp in a round-table discussion, only then will both sides be able to agree on the format on any debate."

Both sides seem to be amenable to an October debate sponsored by the Nevada Broadcasters Association in Las Vegas. Angle's campaign said it's now in negotiations with the broadcasters' group. And the Reid campaign said in its announcement that Reid plans to participate. That debate would be moderated by Mitch Fox, host of Nevada Week in Review if the two sides can agree on a date and any other issues.

Beyond that debate, the two campaigns seem to be shopping for a friendly host and moderator – which could give one or the other an edge.

The Reid campaign announced it had agreed to participate in what it called a "non-partisan" Oct. 19 debate in Reno sponsored by Sunbelt Communications and the Las Vegas Sun. The newspaper is published by Brian Greenspun, a vocal Reid supporter who has contributed to the senator's campaign and the Democratic Party over the years.

The debate panel of three questioners would include Sun political columnist Jon Ralston, the paper's new political reporter, Anjeanette Damon and a "third northern Nevada journalist to be named later," according to the Reid campaign.

The Angle campaign, meanwhile, suggested that conservative radio talk show host Rusty Humphries moderate a Reid-Angle debate, which he apparently did 10 years ago between Sen. John Ensign, the Republican who won, and his Democratic opponent, Ed Bernstein.

It's unclear whether the Reid campaign will agree to sit down for direct talks with the Angle campaign.

"We accepted the invitations to the debates and understand that these organizations also reached out to Angle's campaign," Reid spokesman Jon Summers said when asked whether the senator's camp was in direct talks with Angle's camp.