Ex-Sen. Thompson announces October debate schedule

Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) on Monday announced which debates he would be participating in next month.

Thompson came under fire when he recently announced his candidacy by opting to appear on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” while the rest of the Republican field debated in New Hampshire.

Thompson’s Republican rivals and Democratic critics were quick to make light of Thompson’s reluctance to partake in the debate, questioning his preparedness and debate skills.

Perhaps looking to temper any hard feelings Granite Staters might be harboring, Thompson’s October schedule includes the WMUR-TV/ABC News debate in Manchester on Oct. 14.

Thompson’s campaign also said the former senator would attend the CNBC/MSNBC/Wall Street Journal debate in Dearborn, Mich., on Oct. 9 and the Florida Republican Party debate in Orlando sponsored by Fox News Channel on Oct. 21.

Not on the schedule is a debate later this month at Morgan State University in Baltimore sponsored by PBS and a candidate forum in Iowa in late October sponsored by the state AARP and Iowa Public Television.

Thompson campaign representatives confirmed that the former senator will not be participating in the PBS-sponsored debate.