Expect few debates between Kirk and Duckworth

Voters will have few opportunities to see Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk square off against his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, in debates leading up to the Nov. 8 election.

Kirk's campaign has agreed to three debates while rejecting invitations to several others he has routinely appeared at in the past. Duckworth has committed to do two of the debates Kirk has accepted, while proposing others.

The two will meet at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, in front of the Chicago Tribune editorial board, Kirk campaign spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said. The debate will be streamed live at ChicagoTribune.com, she said.

It is the only Chicago-area debate both sides have agreed on.

Both candidates have scheduled separate meetings with the Daily Herald editorial board.

The two campaigns have also agreed to an Oct. 27 debate in Springfield. That debate will be broadcast live on ABC affiliate WICS-TV, Demertzis said.

Kirk has turned down a debate in front of the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board, a WTTW-sponsored debate and a debate jointly sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago, League of Women Voters and Univision.

Kirk's campaign officials said he has agreed to participate in a Latino forum to be broadcast on WGN. Duckworth agreed to participate in the other Chicago-based debates, but has not yet agreed to the Latino forum, according to media reports.