TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A scheduled debate between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and his Republican challenger is on for late October now that a newspaper is no longer the event's sponsor.
Spokesmen for the senator's campaign and that of U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV said Monday the candidates are set for an event cosponsored by CNN, Bay News 9 and Channel 13 of Tampa. The debate was originally scheduled Oct. 30, but Nelson's office said Monday they would prefer an earlier date.
The state's largest newspaper, The Tampa Bay Times, was a previous sponsor, but Mack refused to participate if it was involved, unhappy with the Times' coverage of his campaign.
The two campaigns have also agreed to an Oct. 17 event organized by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association.
