Topeka ? Busy with votes in Washington and considered a certain winner in his re-election bid, Sen. Sam Brownback has yet to accept a public TV station’s invitation to debate his three challengers.

Now, officials of Washburn University’s KTWU plan to go ahead and tape a debate, whether or not the Republican incumbent takes part.

“We feel in a democracy, the voters should have a chance to see the candidates together,” said Washburn political science professor Bob Beatty, who will serve as moderator.

Brownback, seeking a second six-year term, faces challenges on the Nov. 2 ballot from Democratic nominee Lee Jones, Reform Party candidate George Cook and Libertarian Steven Rosile.

Beatty said the station invited the candidates to debate several days after the Aug. 3 primary. All agreed except Brownback, whose campaign officials in September said the senator wouldn’t confirm his October campaign plans until after the Senate recessed, Beatty said.

That happened Monday, and on Wednesday, Brownback campaign manager Amanda Adkins said the senator still hadn’t determined his plans.

“We currently do not have anything scheduled,” she said, saying the campaign office was working through a stack of “many, many requests” for appearances.

Brownback campaigned in eight cities in southeast Kansas on Tuesday and had a day of “closed activity” on Wednesday, Adkins said.

KTWU left open five days next week for the debate to be taped, and Brownback’s opponents have agreed to show up on the date eventually agreed to by the senator, Beatty said.

The 60-minute debate will air at 2 p.m. Oct. 24 on KTWU. It also will air on public television stations in Wichita and western Kansas, making it the only statewide appearance for all the Senate candidates, Beatty said.

No other TV station has sought to stage a Senate debate.

Jones, the Democratic candidate, said Brownback was tarrying for a reason.

“He figures it will only hurt him if people figure out what his record is all about,” Jones said, adding he was ready to debate “any time, any place, any where. I’m ready to suit up and show up.”

Adkins said Brownback wasn’t afraid of debating and was taking the race seriously.

“I don’t think a candidate who starts (campaigning) at 6:30 a.m. and is willing to visit eight different counties in one day is a candidate who is unwilling to put the voters’ questions first,” she said.