Stabenow offers to debate Hoekstra 2x

DETROIT (AP) - U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow says she will participate in two debates with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra.

Stabenow made the announcement Friday. Hoekstra has been calling for six debates with the two-term Democrat from Lansing.

Details have not been finalized, but Stabenow's campaign said she has accepted invitations from the Detroit Economic Club and Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.

Hoekstra, who won the GOP nomination, has not agreed to Stabenow's proposed one-hour debates. Campaign spokesman Greg VanWoerkom says in a statement Stabenow is "hiding from the public" and her political record.

Stabenow has four times the available campaign cash as Hoekstra.

A recent EPIC-MRA poll showed Stabenow with a 51-44 lead over Hoekstra, with 5% undecided.