June 18, 2012 05:52 PM UTC

Pace and Casida commit to Aspen debate, but Tipton will participate only if "schedule permits"

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• by: Jason Salzman

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

POLS UPDATE: Sal Pace rips Scott Tipton’s debate reluctance in a statement today:

After numerous debate invites, Congressman Scott Tipton has not agreed to debate challenger State Rep. Sal Pace in what is considered one of the most competitive races in the nation.

“The voters from the Third Congressional District deserve to hear from both candidates on the clear differences between the two of us,” Rep. Pace said. “With only four and a half months until the election, I think it’s fair to ask my opponent to debate and address his positions and votes with me for the people of the Third Congressional District. The district is one of the largest in the country, and I have agreed to numerous debates in order to maximize the information voters receive on this important race.

“I question why my opponent has yet to agree to any debates–is it his votes to cut Medicare to give multi-millionaires additional tax breaks? Is it his voting record putting his ‘friends’ over working, Colorado families of the Third District? Either way, the voters deserve to hear us debate our positions and values.”

It occurs to us, and probably bears noting, that this could well be a legitimately tough decision for Rep. Scott Tipton’s campaign. The fact is, Tipton has grave vulnerabilities in an unscripted debate setting, from his many weird on-the-record statements to votes that conflict wholesale with his rhetoric. It might really scare the hell out of them to contemplate a debate against a well-spoken opponent. Original post follows.

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Democrat Sal Pace and independent Tisha Casida, both running for Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, will face off later this year in a debate sponored by The Aspen Daily News and Aspen Public Radio, but Republican Scott Tipton will attend only if his “schedule permits,” according to Roger Adams, News Director of Aspen Public Radio.

A specific date for the debate has not been set, but it will likely occur between mid-September and mid-October, Adams said via email last week.

Other candidates will be invited after the June 26 primary, and more details will be available next month.