Last debate for 'Bloody Eighth' district canceled

The last debate between candidates for Indiana's 8th congressional district, which was to be held Wednesday at the University of Evansville, was postponed by incumbent Congressman John Hostettler R-8th, because of a congressional session expected to last well into this week. \nThe candidates will meet again at 10 a.m. Oct. 31 at Signature School in Evansville for another debate. High school students will ask questions, but the debate will not be open to the public. \nRobert Krieg, spokesman for the Hostettler campaign, said the possibility always existed that Hostettler would not be able to attend the debate.\n"He has to fulfill his (congressional) duties before he campaigns for re-election. They were given notice beforehand that he might not be able to attend," Krieg said. \nHostettler's campaign notified the University of Evansville Student Government Association via fax that the congressman would not be able to attend "due to his official congressional schedule." According to the SGA release, Dr. Paul Perry's campaign "would not agree to participate in the original format without Hostettler." \nJordan Matyas, press secretary for Perry's campaign, said the Hostettler campaign did tell them early last week that Hostettler might not be able to attend, but no reason was given at that point. After Hostettler indicated he could not attend, Matyas said Hostettler's campaign asked if they wanted to reschedule the University of Evansville debate. But before Perry's campaign could respond, they received notice the debate was called off. \n"In this late in the game, it's disappointing when any debate is canceled," he said. "When you're 17 or 18 days out of election day, the time frame isn't important. We would like to go forward, but we're sorry we couldn't reschedule it."\nThe Libertarian candidate for the 8th district, Thomas Tindle, said he received notice from the SGA on Friday about the cancellation, but he was not aware of or invited to the Oct. 31 event at Signature School.\n"It wasn't a total shock," he said. "I know the situation with the budget, and I know he had been going back to Washington. (But I'm) disappointed, yes."\nTindle also said he had not been given the option to reschedule the debate. \n"It was pretty much just called off, but I'm willing to debate any time, any place," he said.\nThe U.S. House of Representatives is still in session this week but is past its target adjournment of Oct. 6. Congress has yet to act on four of the 13 regular spending bills needed to keep the government operating. The current extension of the legislative term is not the longest -- usually Congress finishes in October, but has gone as late as Dec. 1 in the last decade. Congress must approve the spending bills before adjourning for the season.