Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has agreed to three debates with challenger Debbie Cook. The details are still being worked out, but it looks like at least one of them will be in Los Angeles County. Rohrabacher, R-Hungtington Beach, has represented the Palos Verdes Peninsula since the 2001 redistricting, but most of his area is in north Orange County. Cook is the Democratic mayor of Huntington Beach. Cook faces an uphill battle in trying to dispatch a 20-year incumbent, but her supporters note that she has beaten Rohrabacher in fundraising for two straight quarters (though Rohrabacher still has a large lead in cash on hand) and the non-partisan Cook Political Report has moved the race from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican."
Rohrabacher had previously agreed to one debate, at Orange Coast College on Oct. 21. This week his staff informed the Cook campaign that he would participate in two more, at times and dates to be determined. The Cook campaign -- which obviously wants as many debates as it can get -- has been pushing for one of them to be held on the Hill.
That may not happen, but at least one will be in Long Beach, says Cook campaign manager Joe Shaw. The Cook campaign is disappointed because it wants the debates to be earlier because absentee ballots start going out on Oct. 6. But they'll take what they can get.
"I have always debated my opponents," Rohrabacher said in an interview last week, adding that he would be fine with three debates. "I'm not spooked. I'm concerned but I'm also confident."
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