Bacon criticizes Vargas for dodging two additional 2nd District debates

OMAHA — The debate about debates reached Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District on Wednesday, with a twist: an incumbent goading his challenger to do two more debates.

Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and his opponent for the Omaha-area seat, Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas, are set to participate in a League of Women Voters debate at the Omaha Press Club on Oct. 13, which will be aired on WOWT. They agreed to debate a second time Oct. 16 on KETV.

But Bacon is criticizing Vargas for declining two more recently proposed debates.

Bacon agreed to participate in both the longstanding Omaha World-Herald/KMTV debate and a new one being organized by KFAB, involving the Nebraska Examiner. Vargas declined to take part in either. 

“Vargas is playing actual dodgeball with the voters,” Bacon said in a press release evoking Vargas’ TV ad, in which dodgeballs represent slings and arrows coming his way. Bacon said the 2nd District voters deserve to see the two debate to know where Vargas stands “on issues important to Nebraskans.”

Vargas’ campaign manager, Meg Mandy, said Bacon’s criticism of Vargas on debates is “a clear attempt to distract from Bacon’s record on the issues,” including abortion, Social Security and government negotiation on prescription drug prices.

“Senator Vargas is looking forward to talking about the issues that matter to Nebraskans and sharing his vision for our community in the two upcoming debates that have already been scheduled,” she said.

In Nebraska’s governor’s race, the Democratic nominee, State Sen. Carol Blood, has agreed to debate. Republican nominee Jim Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent, has not.