A third debate

Sen. Maria Cantwell should schedule another public debate with her Republican challenger, Mike McGavick.

In a year that seems especially susceptible to manipulation of records and positions by political ads, Cantwell should embrace the chance to appear in a third candidate debate. McGavick is certainly willing. But Cantwell's campaign has all but ignored two credible offers. So far, the candidates will appear in two televised debates. An hour-long meeting in Seattle, in which The Seattle Times Editorial Board is a participant, and a half-hour meeting at the Spokane Rotary Club. The Spokesman-Review editorial page will Webcast its joint interview with the candidates. Those are fine venues, but Washington is a big state.

The Yakima Herald-Republic proposed a debate jointly sponsored by interests in Yakima and Tri-Cities, similar to its gubernatorial debate of two years ago. That debate had a different flavor than those held in urban areas, discussing issues of concern to central Washington's more resource-based economies. The Olympian proposed a four-newspaper-sponsored debate of 90 minutes to be broadcast statewide by TVW.

The scheduled urban forums of limited length will cover the big issues, including the Iraq war and Social Security, but they likely won't get to nuanced questions about farm policy, rural health care, water storage or Hanford cleanup — something voters in other parts of the state care very much about.

Sen. Cantwell, add another debate to your calendar.