Ok, so we saw the Murphy camp vindicated by referring to the March 9 meeting with the Poughkeepsie Journal as an editorial board meeting, which is what the paper itself considers it. Score one for Murphy.

However, it refers to the March 3 AARP meeting at the Saratoga Springs Public Library as an "issues forum," while Tedisco has been calling it a debate. Score one for Tedisco here, it seems.

AARP's Erin Mitchell, the associate state director of community outreach, and Angela Neal, the associate state director for advocacy, said they are calling their event a debate. Judging from the description, it sure sounds like one: During the 90-minutes, candidates will take three minutes to make opening statements, be given two minutes to respond to questions from both panel and audience, and then given a final two minutes for closing statements.

Mitchell and Neal said it will be a controlled, issue-driven discussion, but a debate nonetheless.

So far the record stands at 1-1-1 (I consider the League of Women Voters/WROW debate a tie). Now to see how the candidates fare in a debate of substance and not this nonsense.

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering why the LWV/WROW debate is being held in Latham, which is NOT in the 20th CD, this is from the press release the two groups issued:

"...it was agreed by all parties that the facility was the perfect venue since it is centrally located for all participants given the unique shape of the 20th Congressional District."

With luck I'll be out of here in a few hours. Andrew's manning the newsroom tomorrow and is then back again Monday, so it should be regularly scheduled programming from here on out. Have a great weekend, all!