Sen. Patty Murray's campaign is accusing Dino Rossi's campaign of stalling on the debates.

One debate has already been set up—it's next Thursday, October 14, in Spokane. However, Murray's spokeswoman Julie Edwards says the second debate has become of point of contention. The Murray camp wants the follow-up debate (the camps had agreed to two debates) to happen the weekend ballots go out (October 15th)— so just a few days after the Spokane debate. But the Rossi camp, they say, wants it to happen a week later.

Pushing it back, the Murray camp complains, would "potentially [deny] voters the opportunity to hear from both candidates." Edwards concludes:  "We are very disappointed in their stubborn refusal to agree to a debate before voting begins."

This is sort of an odd turn of events. It was the Rossi camp that was initially pushing for six debates instead of just two.

And we have a little theory at Cola HQ—we expounded upon it here when we made fun of Suzan DelBene when she was begging for debates last week—but basically we're under the impression that the candidate who's pushing for debates is the candidate who's in trouble.

So, has the momentum shifted?

We're waiting to hear back from the evidently unhurried Rossi camp.

UPDATE:

Rossi spokeswoman Jennifer Morris says:

"We want as many voters to see these as possible which is why Dino asked for several debates throughout the state. It seems Sen. Murray wants to limit debates and get them over with quickly so she can go back to hiding from voters at scripted events."