Mary Headrick, from left, Chuck FleischmannVoters in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District will get to see their congressional candidates debate after all.
U.S. Rep Chuck Fleischmann says he will debate Mary Headrick, the Democratic challenger seeking to keep him from returning to Washington, D.C., for a third term.
Brian O'Shaughnessy, a spokesman for Fleischmann, said Thursday the Ooltewah Republican would make good on a primary promise to debate Headrick.
"We will debate Ms. Headrick here in Hamilton County. The congressman looks forward to it," O'Shaughnessy said.
The televised debate will take place and air live at 8 p.m. EDT on Oct. 27. It will be produced by WTCI, the local PBS affiliate, and the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The two organizations hosted a similar debate for the Republican primary in July.
Headrick said she had hoped Fleischmann would agree to a date before Oct. 15 -- the start of early voting -- but she will take what she can get.
"As my campaign manager said, 'We'll just have to work harder,'" Headrick said in an email Friday.
Having the debate close to the election could be a boon for Fleischmann, who has the incumbency, a war chest and conservative credentials on his side, according to Bruce Oppenheimer, a political science professor for Vanderbilt University.
"When you've got a lot more money than your opponent, there's no reason to give them free visibility. But one way to get away from the idea that you won't debate your opponent is to have it close to the election. It may minimize damage -- if there's any damage," Oppenheimer said.
As of July 18, federal election finance reports show Fleischmann had $348,260 on hand after spending more than $902,000 since the start of 2013. Headrick had nothing, after spending $21,268 since November 2012.
Hamilton County is the largest voter base in the 11-county district, which also comprises Anderson, Bradley, Campbell, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Roane, Scott and Union counties.
In 2012, Fleischmann beat Headrick in the general election with 61 percent of the vote to Headrick's 35 percent. Matthew Deniston, an independent candidate, took 3 percent of the vote.
Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.