A great deal of foofraw ensued in 2010 over then-St. Lawrence County Clerk Patty Ritchie's evasive answers on whether and when she would debate the incumbent, Darrel Aubertine.

The voters didn't seem to care, electing Mrs. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, by a slim margin over Mr. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, despite Mr. Aubertine's effort to make an issue of it.

So I wanted to establish now that Mrs. Ritchie's opponent and Mrs. Ritchie herself say they're ready to debate this year.

Amy Tresidder, a Democrat of Oswego County, said in an email that the details haven't been ironed out, but she'd like to debate in all three counties.

Mrs. Ritchie's chief of staff, Graham Wise, said in an electronic message that "Senator Ritchie will debate and looks forward to it."

Much is made of the prodigious Ritchie press operation — Democrats and Mrs. Ritchie's political opponents say that the freshman senator doesn't speak to the public and hides behind representatives. A debate, or several debates, would give Mrs. Ritchie the opportunity to dispel the notion that she's a lightweight on the issues.

The election is Nov. 6.

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