Four candidates for governor have confirmed that they’ll debate this Friday in Coeur d’Alene – GOP Gov. Butch Otter, Democratic challenger A.J. Balukoff, Libertarian candidate John Bujak and independent candidate “Pro-Life.” Jimmy McAndrew of the Coeur Group, which is organizing the noon Friday debate at the Coeur d’Alene Library’s downstairs community room, said the group invited all the candidates on the ballot; all but two, independent Jill Humble and Constitution Party candidate Steve Pankey, accepted. “So we’ve got four,” he said. “Humble declined, I just don’t think she could make it work. We never heard back from Pankey”/Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: I don't think fringe candidates should be invited to debates for major offices like governor (think: Harley Brown, Walt Bayes). They gum up the debate. What do you think?