Cantwell Picks Spokane for First Senate Debate

Cantwell Picks Spokane for First Senate Debate

Fourth of At Least Seven Face to Face Appearances

Thursday U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell returned to Spokane for the first debate of her re-election campaign and the fourth face-to-face appearance with challenger Mike McGavick of at least seven already scheduled. Cantwell will meet with her Republican rival at least seven times in the next two weeks before voting begins, with at least four face-to-face appearances on statewide television - half of them east of the mountains.

"I'm proud to be here in Spokane honoring our work together for the last six years. In 2000, I was pleased to debate critical issues for Washington state here and I'm delighted to return and do it again. Spokane is a fantastic city and it's always so nice to come here and spend time with you, hearing about the issues that matter to our state and specifically to Spokane. Over the past six years we've worked together to improve the economy here with targeted investments particularly in the health care industry with Washington State University's Nursing School and Inland Northwest Health Service. We've kept BPA power rates affordable to keep energy costs lower for Spokane's businesses and area residents.

"We've worked together to help get Spokane selected as the host city for the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and 100 days out with the eyes of the nation on us, we're going to show everyone what Spokane is made of. We'll keep up our support for Fairchild Airforce base and protect and preserve the mission of Fairchild every step of the way. Spokane is one of my favorite places in Washington state and I'm excited to be here to talking about the issues that matter to you, like ensuring access to quality, affordable health care, lowering energy costs, and protecting the promise of Social Security for Spokane seniors."

Thursday's Spokane Rotary debate will air in Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Yakima from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm on KXLY, KXMN-TV, and KXLY 920 AM in Spokane, KVEW-TV and KVEW-D in Tri-Cities and in Yakima on KAPP-TV and KAPP-D. It will be available online at www.kxly.com and on C-SPAN nationwide.

Cantwell and McGavick's first side-by-side appearance at the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board will air on TVW at 9:00pm on Thursday, October 12.

After taking questions from the Spokane Rotary, Cantwell and McGavick will head to an hour-and-a-half meeting with the Spokesman Review's editorial board, to be broadcast live on the paper's website at http://www.spokesman-review.com/.

On October 17, KING-5, The Seattle Times, KREM-TV, NWCN, Northwest News Network and the Seattle City Club will sponsor a second debate in Seattle which will air that evening.

http://www.cantwell.com/news/release/view/?id=143