Clinton hedges on debate invite from Democratic challenger

By Marc Humbert/Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- She may have the support of state Democratic officials, but Hillary Rodham Clinton is not the official Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate -- not yet, anyway.

She faces a Sept. 12 primary against orthopedic surgeon Mark McMahon, who so far hasn't been able to get the time of day from the first lady.

Pending federal court action, Clinton could also face several other Democrats in the primary. None, including McMahon, are household names and none seem likely to threaten her chances of going up against Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio in November.

But McMahon, who is from New York City, managed to collect the signatures of more than 40,000 Democrats statewide to win a spot on the primary ballot. He needed at least 15,000 signatures.

Since then, McMahon has been unable to get the first lady to meet him in a series of debates on such topics as health care, education, the economy and foreign policy.

"I believe that out of respect for the 4.9 million Democrats in the state she should debate the home-grown candidate on the issues New Yorkers care most about," he said.

McMahon has been making much of the fact that Clinton lacks New York roots. She only moved to the state in January.

McMahon is not alone in his inability to get an answer from Clinton on whether she will debate him. She sidestepped several questions from reporters on the subject this week.

When asked if she would debate McMahon, Clinton said: "I'm going to stay focused on the election that is really mattering to New Yorkers and the one that we're all engaged in and that is the difference between Republicans and Democrats and between me and my opponent."

Meanwhile, with her poll numbers largely stagnant at under 50 percent support for months, Clinton recently challenged Lazio to a series of debates.

The Lazio campaign responded by jumping on the McMahon bandwagon. Lazio campaign manager Bill Dal Col said: "Hillary Clinton needs to realize that New Yorkers don't coronate their senators."

So far, the extent of McMahon's campaign has been one recent swing across the state and as many media interviews as he can get. A Republican who switched to the Democratic Party in 1997, McMahon said he doesn't understand "why she would somehow be afraid to debate me. All I am is a citizen of the state."

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