U.S. Rep. Butch Otter, who is giving up his seat in Congress to run for governor, has backed out of his scheduled debate next Thursday against primary election opponent Dan Adamson. The debate, part of a series sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Idaho Press Club and Idaho Public Television, was to be broadcast live statewide on Idaho Public TV. The three organizations have been sponsoring the Idaho Debates each election for the past 25 years. Otter’s campaign informed Idaho Public TV today that next Thursday won’t work because of votes in Congress. When three alternate dates were proposed – a Saturday, a Sunday and a Monday – the campaign rejected those as well, saying Otter was booked here"/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise.

DFO: I abhor when frontrunning imcumbents brush off long-shot opponents with the campaign rationale that they have nothing to gain and everything to lose if they make a misstep.

---

---