I'm always suspicious when candidates start shopping for debates — and a format they like.

And that's what Lt. Gov. Jim Risch is doing this spring, as he picks a KTVB debate with his fellow Republican candidates for U.S. Senate over the traditional, statewide Idaho Public Television debates.

Risch will participate in a May 14 KTVB debate, but he'll skip the Public Television debate on May 22.

Here's what Jason Risch — chairman of the Risch for Senate campaign, and the candidate's son — said in a letter to Elinor Chehey of the League of Women Voters (Scroll down for the full text):

"Your format and rules said that the 'format is fluid' and that 'cross talk' would be permitted. Our experience in that regard has been that the format you chose frequently deteriorates into a negative exchange between the candidates, which is unhelpful and unappreciated by the viewers. ... The 'fluid' format and the 'cross talk' format frequently causes candidates to unnecessarily denigrate another candidate's position rather than focusing in a positive manner on the candidate's own views."

Whew. That was close. Risch — a trial lawyer by training, with going on 30 years of elected public service — nearly walked into a leg trap of "fluid format" and "cross talk." Glad he got out in one piece.

I'm not going to condemn the KTVB debate in advance — although I can only hope the event offers more substance than the legendary Mark Johnson-Larry Craig interview from last October. Then again, the Risch campaign has said it all. For all the campaign's praise of KTVB's debate distribution — via commercial and public TV, radio and the Internet — it certainly reads like the Risch campaign is looking for a debate format scrubbed of all trappings of actual debate.

The KTVB debate will be taped May 14 and aired later, the Associated Press reported Monday. The debate will not be edited prior to airing, says KTVB. Candidates will field questions only from panelists, not from each other.

We've been down this road before. In 2006, Risch spurned a live Idaho Public Television debate during his successful run for lieutenant governor.

I have a dog in this fight. I'm vice president of the Idaho Press Club, the third co-sponsor of the Idaho Public Television-League of Women Voters debates. I'll also be helping with a panel of pundits offering online post-debate analysis of the IPTV debates — and the Senate debate will go on, with or without Risch.

My personal involvement aside, I'm troubled to see a candidate spurning a live debate for a taped version, which allows a campaign ample time for preemptive spin control. And in his search for a friendly format, Risch is being pretty unabashed about his desire to take an easy way out.

Here's the full text of the letter:

Thank you for your invitation to participate in the debate sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Idaho to be filmed by Idaho Public Television on May 22, 2008.

We have selected the debate conducted by KTVB Channel 7 in Boise on May 14, 2008.

We chose to participate in the KTVB debate rather than The League of Women Voters debate because of its format, and because of its wide circulation to Idaho voters.

Your format and rules said that the “format is fluid” and that “cross talk” would be permitted. Our experience in that regard has been that the format you chose frequently deteriorates into a negative exchange between the candidates, which is unhelpful and unappreciated by the viewers. The debate format chosen by KTVB is a disciplined debate designed to keep the candidates
focused on specific answers to issue-oriented questions. We have found widespread and deep appreciation by the viewers for such a format. As you know, we are running a very positive campaign focused on our positions on the issues and we respect other candidacy positions and will not besmirch their stance on the issues. The “fluid” format and the “cross talk” format
frequently causes candidates to unnecessarily denigrate another candidate’s position rather than focusing in a positive manner on the candidate’s own views. We have been told over and over that such a negative tone is not appreciated and is not helpful to viewers trying to evaluate each
candidate.

In addition, our experience with the KTVB debate is such that it receives widespread distribution, and indeed we believe the widest possible. It is broadcast and rebroadcast on channel 7, and it is broadcast and rebroadcast numerous times on channel 28. In addition, the debate is distributed around the state and aired by many other television stations. It is made available to public television and rebroadcast throughout the state on those channels. Finally, it is available on the Internet for people to view at any time of the day they choose.

Over the years we have received very substantial support for the KTVB format and our position on this matter from the citizens of Idaho.

Again, thank you for the invitation.

Very truly yours,

JIM RISCH FOR U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE

By JASON S. RISCH