The two men have met several times in debates sponsored by local organizations.

"You don't sponsor debates 11 months before the election for the ratings," he said.

Mr. Bush did agree to one presidential debate sponsored by the commission.

For the last three Presidential elections, it has sponsored televised debates.

Apparently it's a special debate, sponsored by the Palestinian lobby, on international brotherhood!

The two major political parties today announced the creation of a bipartisan commission to sponsor Presidential debates in the 1988 general election campaign.

Unlike debates sponsored at the high school or collegiate level, the participants, format, and rules are not independently defined.

The national Democratic and Republican parties have agreed to sponsor general-election debates in the 1988 campaign.

A law passed last year requires candidates who get public finances to participate in debates sponsored by nonpartisan organizations.

The debate, sponsored by The Stranger was arranged as a dare and drew a crowd of around 800 people.