U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin Says He Will Debate His GOP Challenger

John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network

A challenge for seven debates has been issued in Illinois’ U.S. Senate race.

That’s how many times the Republican nominee, State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove), has asked to face off with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Durbin says he has no problem with the debate request, though whether seven debates will occur is still up in the air.  “Every challenger wants seven, 17, 70…I mean, they always start at some high number,” Durbin said. “We’ll come up with a reasonable number.  People will know, clearly, on Election Day, the differences between myself and my opponent.”

In a press release, Oberweis asked for at least three of the debates to be held outside of the Chicago area, with one to be hosted by a “liberal organization” and another “co-hosted by a conservative organization for diversity of questioning.”

Oberweis had been accused of avoiding debates by his primary opponent, Doug Truax.  The one debate of the campaign took place at a retirement community in Huntley and was broadcast only on a local TV station.