Lots of congressional debate news this week, so let's run through it all.

First, 11th District GOP candidate Marty Ozinga is complaining about the choice of Southtown Star columnist Kristen McQueary as the moderator of a September 25 debate between he and Democrat Debbie Halvorson.  From a campaign press release posted by Capitol Fax:

It would be hard to imagine a presidential debate moderated by MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. Similarly, we cannot imagine a congressional debate moderated by Kristen McQueary. [...]

We propose one of two options to rectify this problem: 1) for balance, have fellow Southtown Star opinion columnist Fran Eaton to serve as the comoderator with Mrs. McQueary; OR 2) have an objective news reporter familiar with the race, such as the Joliet Herald News’ Patrick Ferrell, to serve as the sole moderator.

Rich Miller effectively skewers the Ozinga's campaign suggestion that McQueary needs to balanced by a right-wing figure such as Eaton.  He concludes: "What a buncha whiners."

Meanwhile, in the 6th Congressional District, GOP Rep. Peter Roskam has apparently refused to debate Democratic challenger Jill Morgenthaler.  From a press release:

Morgenthaler said, “Peter Roskam likes to talk to voters in his pre-scripted 'virtual town halls' but will not answer the hard questions on his record or on the issues. I have agreed to every debate and joint appearance request that has come our way, and Peter Roskam has continued to hide. This is a critical year and the voters of the 6th District deserve the opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on the issues that affect their day-to-day lives.”

To date, Roskam, has refused to appear with Colonel Morgenthaler in any venue.

The release goes on to point out that, during his 2006 race for the open 6th District seat, Roskam accused then-Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth of ducking several community debates.  Duckworth did agree to four debates with Roskam prior to Election Day that year.

Finally, Sen. Dick Durbin and GOP challenger Steve Sauerberg have agreed to two debates: one on October 6 on WTTW's Chicago Tonight and the other on October 9 at Knox College.