Report: Grand Rapids Senate debate cancelled, Land blamed

Eclectablog.com is reporting that the Grand Rapids debate proposed between Senate candidates Gary Peters and Terri Lynn Land has fallen apart due to Land's lack of cooperation.

Here's the information Eclectablog received from the Peters campaign:
"WOOD-TV is canceling its proposed Sept. 8 U.S. Senate debate because the Land campaign refused to coordinate with organizers. In response, the Peters for Michigan debate negotiator, former lieutenant governor John Cherry, today requested a meeting with Land and WOOD-TV to reschedule a debate in Grand Rapids.

"Despite saying she would begin debate talks post-primary, Land refuses to discuss a debate schedule and still hasn’t appointed a debate negotiator to work with Cherry. The Peters campaign has accepted all debate invitations its received and is working with organizers in Detroit, Lansing, and Traverse City. Cherry will be working with WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids to reschedule."

In a letter to WOOD-TV, a news station that has hosted numerous candidate debates in the past, Cherry said this: 

"On behalf of the Peters for Michigan United States Senate Campaign, I wanted to introduce myself to you, and applaud your invitation and offer to host a debate between Congressman Peters and Secretary Land. The Congressman has appointed me as his representative in any discussions pertaining to debates and their format. He has also informed me that he has officially accepted your invitation. We are disappointed by WOOD-TV’s decision to cancel the debate because of Ms. Land’s refusal to discuss a debate schedule. Therefore, I am requesting a meeting with the station and Ms. Land and her campaign. It is imperative that discussions with Ms. Land and her campaign begin now so we do not miss another deadline. To that end I wish to make myself available to you so that we can accommodate your suggested time schedule."

Now awaiting word from the Land camp.

You can read more about this campaign development here.