Johanns, Kleeb agree to first debate
OMAHA — The boys of Boys State will provide the questions for the first scheduled debate between U.S. Senate candidates Mike Johanns and Scott Kleeb.
The June 5 debate in Lincoln is being organized by the American Legion Cornhusker Boys State.
Boys State is a weeklong government leadership program for about 400 high school boys. A similar program is held for girls, but they will not be involved with the debate.
Boys State organizer Aaron Zabawa said Monday that the boys will spend part of their week formulating questions.
Johanns and Kleeb will open with a few prepared remarks, Zabawa said.
Then a moderator will read the boys’ questions. Each candidate will answer and have an opportunity to criticize the other’s answers.
Assuming there is time toward the end of the scheduled 90 minutes, some boys in the audience will get to ask unscripted questions.
Under the format chosen by the American Legion, Zabawa said, Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg will not be invited to participate.
The debate will be held the afternoon of June 5 at Kimball Hall on the city campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It will closed to the public, but press coverage will be allowed.
Kleeb and Johanns campaign representatives said Monday that the campaigns have been in contact with several organizations around the state about setting more debates. But the timing and specifics of those have not been completed.
There had been no direct debate negotiations yet between Kleeb and Johanns representatives, both sides said.
Kleeb is a 32-year-old, Yale-educated ranch hand who teaches history at Hastings College. Last Tuesday he won 69 percent of the vote in beating Columbus business executive Tony Raimondo and two others in the Democratic primary.
Johanns, 57, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. agriculture secretary, overwhelmed political newcomer Pat Flynn in the Republican primary.
Kleeb and Johanns want to replace Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who decided not to seek a third term.
The June 5 debate in Lincoln is being organized by the American Legion Cornhusker Boys State.
Boys State is a weeklong government leadership program for about 400 high school boys. A similar program is held for girls, but they will not be involved with the debate.
Boys State organizer Aaron Zabawa said Monday that the boys will spend part of their week formulating questions.
Johanns and Kleeb will open with a few prepared remarks, Zabawa said.
Then a moderator will read the boys’ questions. Each candidate will answer and have an opportunity to criticize the other’s answers.
Assuming there is time toward the end of the scheduled 90 minutes, some boys in the audience will get to ask unscripted questions.
Under the format chosen by the American Legion, Zabawa said, Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg will not be invited to participate.
The debate will be held the afternoon of June 5 at Kimball Hall on the city campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It will closed to the public, but press coverage will be allowed.
Kleeb and Johanns campaign representatives said Monday that the campaigns have been in contact with several organizations around the state about setting more debates. But the timing and specifics of those have not been completed.
There had been no direct debate negotiations yet between Kleeb and Johanns representatives, both sides said.
Kleeb is a 32-year-old, Yale-educated ranch hand who teaches history at Hastings College. Last Tuesday he won 69 percent of the vote in beating Columbus business executive Tony Raimondo and two others in the Democratic primary.
Johanns, 57, a former Nebraska governor and U.S. agriculture secretary, overwhelmed political newcomer Pat Flynn in the Republican primary.
Kleeb and Johanns want to replace Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who decided not to seek a third term.
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