Topeka ? U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., will not participate in the only statewide televised debate in the Senate race.

But he will appear through a five-minute taped statement that he has provided, according to debate moderator Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University.

The debate will be taped from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at the KTWU studio in Topeka.

All of Brownback’s opponents will be there: Lee Jones, a Democrat; Steve Rosile, Libertarian; George Cook, Reform Party; and Horace Edwards, a write-in candidate.

The debate will air at 2 p.m. Sunday on KTWU, Sunflower Broadband Channel 11.

A Brownback campaign spokesman could not be reached for comment.