Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, says Democratic opponent Bobbie Coray is guilty of a "blatant prevarication" when she accuses him of refusing to answer media inquiries.
Coray said Wednesday that her campaign had "learned" the congressman instructed his staff to respond for him to most media inquiries, especially from newspaper reporters.Hansen said he answers reporters' phone calls and gives personal interviews frequently. "I don't stonewall the press and I haven't told my staff to," he said.
Coray says a review of newspaper clippings indicates otherwise. She also fired a shot at Hansen's debate scheduling in the past.
"In his 1990 race (against Kenley Brunsdale), Rep. Hansen scheduled several debates only to cancel at the last minute and send a surrogate to represent him. He ended up appearing at only one debate that was held five days before the election."
Hansen said Thursday that simply isn't true. He scheduled nine debates with Brunsdale, appearing personally at seven.
And he pledged to appear at many - if not all - of the six debates he and Coray have scheduled before the November election.