Congressional Candidates to Debate Thursday at UM

… Overby Center hosting only debate for First District race

OXFORD, Miss – The only debate in the race between Republican U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee and Democratic challenger Brad Morris for Mississippi’s First District congressional seat will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 25) in the Overby Center Auditorium at the University of Mississippi.

The hourlong debate is co-sponsored by the university’s Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics and Lott Leadership Institute. The event is free and open to the public, and visitors will have an opportunity to meet the candidates at a reception to follow in the Overby Center lobby.

The candidates will field questions from a panel of journalists. Under the format agreed upon by both sides, the candidates will have a chance to deal with each issue that is raised, and back-and-forth exchanges will be encouraged. The panel will include Emily Le Coz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Jonathan Scott of the Oxford Eagle, Jennifer Nassar of the Daily Mississippian and Sandra Knispel of Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

“We are delighted that the two candidates for the U.S. House have agreed to hold their only debate here, and we are looking forward to a free exchange on the issues,” said Overby Fellow Bill Rose, who will moderate the debate. “These debates are becoming a tradition at the Overby Center.”

Since its inception in 2007, the center has hosted four debates in First District congressional races. It also staged a debate in the runoff between the two candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2011.

Nunnelee, 54, wrested the congressional seat from Democrat Travis Childers two years ago. Nunnelee spent seven years in the Mississippi Senate, where he chaired the Appropriations Committee and was an ally of Gov. Haley Barbour.

Morris, 37, an Oxford attorney and owner of a small in-home care business, served as Childers’ campaign manager and was his chief of staff in Congress.

Mississippi’s First District takes up almost the top third of the state, excluding the Delta. It sprawls from DeSoto County all the way to the Alabama state line.

(staff report)