Cannon is accused of avoiding debates

PROVO — Don't hold your breath waiting for a debate among the three Republican candidates for Utah's 3rd District congressional seat.

Challenger Matt Throckmorton called Friday for a series of debates focused on immigration issues, including one on the eve of the Republican convention. He also encouraged Rep. Chris Cannon to accept a standing invitation from talk show host Lou Dobbs to debate immigration policy with Throckmorton on CNN.

Neither will happen, nor will Cannon agree to any debates, a spokesman said.

"It's a matter of priorities," said Joe Hunter, Cannon's chief of staff. "We've got very limited time in which to communicate with the thousand or so delegates in the 3rd District that we need to meet with. Essentially, Chris has next week, and that's it, then Chris is back in Congress."

Congress reconvenes April 20. The convention is scheduled for May 8.

Throckmorton accused Cannon of backing out of several planned debates, including at least one that Cannon allegedly proposed. That debate was to take place on a Utah radio station, Throckmorton said, but a Cannon staffer called the morning it was scheduled to say the congressman couldn't make it.

Additionally, Throckmorton said he and his wife recently ran into Cannon and his daughter at a Springville market. He said Cannon agreed then to a debate on immigration policy.

Both Throckmorton and Greg Hawkins hope to garner enough votes from delegates at the convention to force Cannon into a party primary. Throckmorton said Friday he has reserved locations on May 7 in both Salt Lake and Utah counties.

"Whatever makes him comfortable," Throckmorton said, "but he needs to be there."

Cannon wants to focus on meeting with delegates instead, and Hunter denied the charge that Cannon has ducked any debates.

"We didn't have a clue what he was talking about in so far as setting up dates," Hunter said. "If running into someone on the street constitutes a commitment, we're never going to say it didn't happen, but there have been no debates scheduled that we'd agreed to or that we didn't show up for. I'm pretty confident about that."

Cannon has discussed immigration on several national TV shows, including Dobbs'.

"We don't feel the need to go on with Matt and do so again," Hunter said.