Democrat Irv Halter
Irv Halter, the Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, will likely debate a chicken on Thursday.
The outlandish notion is the latest attempt to get Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn to debate the retired Air Force general. A political-action committee called is scheduled to host a debate at the Colorado Springs Penrose Library Thursday. Members of the committee have been going around the city dressed in chicken suits handing out leaflets imploring Lamborn to debate Halter. The committee even showed up at the Tuesday.
According to a press release, if Lamborn doesn’t show up to the debate, a trained chicken will take his place.
Lamborn has declined Halter’s challenge to a debate since besting Bentley Rayburn in the GOP primary in June. Lamborn’s campaign spokesman Jarred Rego the congressman has no desire to provide Halter with “a platform to spread his deceptive rhetoric and uncivil tone.”
Lamborn’s refusal to debate has come under heavy fire from Halter, El Paso County Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Ricker, and now the political action committee is the latest to urge Lamborn to debate.
As the race for the Colorado Springs’ seat nears the homestretch, Halter has continued to outpace the incumbent congressman according to Federal Election Commission records.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (Bloomberg)
Lamborn raised $91,806.09 in the third quarter of 2014. The amount brings Lamborn’s total cash on hand to $171,428.77 with $100,000 of that number coming from a loan from Lamborn’s personal funds. The congressman loaned the money March 31.
Halter by contrast raised $191,617.55 raised with $363,425.38 cash on hand. Halter in fundraising throughout the entire year. Though the massive discrepancy between the funds in each camp can be attributed to Lamborn spending $150,000 in the primary. Halter ran unopposed.
Despite Halter’s success as fundraiser, there is little reason to believe Lamborn will not retain his seat, given the districtap strong Republican tendencies for the past 20 years.
Ethan Susseles, Halter’s campaign manager, said Lamborn’s refusal is part of why Coloradans dislike national politics.
“Congressman Lamborn’s arrogant refusal to defend his record is why so many Coloradans dislike Washington,” Susseles said in an email. “Irv looks forward to participating in this forum, and we hope Congressman Lamborn shows respect for the voters by showing up.”
In response to the committee’s challenge, Rego called the debate a nonsensical stunt.
“Regrettably, this is further proof of the uncivil campaign Mr. Halter has been running and he should immediately disavow nonsensical, disrespectful, and empty name-calling stunts like this,” Rego said in an email.
