Hoekstra, Durant, Hekman to debate Thursday - Fox 2 News Headlines

So they will debate after all.

Up until a few days ago, it looked like the almost invisible GOP U.S. Senate primary would go down in the history books sans a televised debate. But when the Pete Hoekstra folks sent a signal that they would do it, you can imagine the Clark Durant and Randy Hekman troops jumped on that quicker than you can say, "Where do ya need me and when?"

The when is this coming Thursday. The where is the Michigan Public TV studios in East Lansing. The format is the right one i.e. no rules and a single moderator.

In this debate back and forth it was Mr. Hoekstra who held all the cards and as long as he didn't play any, there was not going to be a meeting of the trio of GOP hopefuls. So his side gets the credit for making this happen. No one revealed why, all of a sudden, this fell into place, but Michigan citizens who have been relegated to "learning" about the candidates in their TV commercials, slightly slanted for political advantage of course, should be grateful it will happen.

The Durant side in accepting the joint appearance complained about the lack of more debates which is pretty standard for the underdog in the contest. The more side by side exposure one can get with the front runner the better your chances of winning, but barring any additional changes of heart by Mr. Hoekstra, this thing on Thursday will be it.

The Hekman campaign reported that their guy was "enthusiastic" about all this since he does not have a boat load of TV money to "sell" his agenda to the public. Any free media he can get, he will take.

So onward to Thursday and if you had one question to lay on these guys, here's your chance. Please nothing about the president's birth place.