SEATTLE (AP) — Republican John Koster has pulled out of his only televised debate with Rep. Rick Larsen in Washington’s 2nd Congressional District race, saying that a reporter chosen to ask questions is biased against him.
Koster spokesman Matt Parker said Wednesday that Everett Herald political reporter Jerry Cornfield has written stories and columns that paint his candidate as an “extremist.” Parker gave public television station KCTS the final word on Tuesday that Koster wouldn’t participate if Cornfield remained on the panel.
KCTS host Enrique Cerna, who was to be the debate moderator, said he read Cornfield’s stories and found them informative and straightforward. Cerna said Cornfield was a perfect fit for the panel because he’s the main political writer at the biggest newspaper in the district. The station says it doesn’t let campaigns influence whom it picks as panelists.
