Apparently Reps. Steve Pearce (R) and Tom Udall (D) are skipping the traditional debate over whether to debate. Udall, the clear frontrunner in the race, has proposed to Pearce three debates to be televised statewide, and the Republican has agreed.

In a July 21 letter to Pearce’s campaign manager made public by the Udall campaign, Udall campaign manager Amanda Cooper “challenged” Pearce to three post-Labor Day debates, to be conducted in a “variety of formats.”

On Tuesday, the Pearce campaign publicized a letter accepting Udall’s challenge.

“The voters need to know that Congressman Udall and some of the most radical special interests in the Democratic Party have been standing in the way of America’s ability to move forward on energy, education, the economy, on issue after issue,” Pearce campaign manager John Billingsley wrote.

Pearce closed the second quarter with $532,000 in cash on hand, compared to $2.9 million for Udall. Sen. Pete Domenici (R) is retiring.