The Republican opponent of Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal is crying foul about the lack of debates ahead of the election.

Dan Carter, a GOP state representative, is struggling to boost his name recognition in his longshot Senate bid against the freshman Democrat. “It’s very clear that Dick Blumenthal believes he’s entitled to the office of U.S. Senate,” Liz Kurantowicz, a senior adviser to Carter, told the Hartford Courant. 

The remark comes after a newspaper which traditionally hosts a debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London, a staple in Connecticut politics, opted out of the forum. Instead, The Day of New London is trying to organize a smaller event, though Blumenthal’s campaign has not yet agreed to participate.

In addition, the Courant and NBC Connecticut have decided not to organize debates either. Instead, the Courant will broadcast editorial endorsement interviews on a statewide public affairs network.

Blumenthal’s campaign pointed out that the senator has accepted an invitation to a debate on Oct. 23 to be held at the studios of WFSB, a CBS affiliate in Hartford. 

“The senator has always debated … and will again this year,” Marla Romash, a Blumenthal campaign adviser, told the Courant.

[Linda McMahon Still a Republican Fundraising Heavyweight]

The lack of attention to the race is in stark contrast to Blumenthal’s first Senate race in 2010 when he ran against former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, who largely self-funded her campaign to the tune of $50 million.

In this year’s race, Carter only reported $70,000 in cash on hand in his July quarterly fundraising report to the Federal Election Commission while Blumenthal reported $5.3 million for the same period.

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates the race as Safe Democrat.