Centre College President John A. Roush announced Thursday that the college has formally proposed to host a debate for Kentucky's U.S. Senate race.
The announcement came at a news conference in front of Centre College's Norton Center for the Arts, where both the 2000 and 2012 vice presidential debates took place.
Roush was joined at the news conference by representatives for the proposed debate's sponsoring and media partners. State Director Ron Bridges and State President Jim Kimbrough spoke on behalf of AARP Kentucky, and Vice President and General Manager Ken Selvaggi spoke on behalf of WAVE3 news.
"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government," said Roush, referencing Thomas Jefferson's comment.
Centre, AARP and WAVE3 News have proposed the debate take place 8-9 p.m. Sept, 3, 2014.
According to a press release, the debate would be open to any candidate who receives at least 10 percent support in the NBC News/Marist poll prior to Aug. 1. Only incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Democrat, currently meet these criteria.
"While the national focus will be intense, we are committed to making this senatorial debate about Kentuckians and for Kentuckians," said Bridges.
Neither McConnell nor Grimes has responded to the proposal and Centre College, AARP and WAVE3 News have requested a response to the proposal by Aug. 1.
