Despite early reports that Houston state Rep. Rick Noriega would refuse to debate his strongest challenger in his race for the U.S. Senate, a sparring match has now been set – the Democrat will face off against Corpus Christi schoolteacher Ray McMurrey on Wednesday, February 13 at 8pm here in Austin. The event, sponsored by the University Democrats and Keep Austin Blue, will be held at Jester Auditorium (21st and Speedway on the UT Campus, Rm. A121A). The other two Democrats in the race, San Antonians Gene Kelley and Rhett Smith – neither considered a strong candidate – are not listed on the bill. The winner of the March 4 primary will try to unseat Republican incumbent John Cornyn in November. The debate will be moderated by Eileen Smith of Texas Monthly and Karen Brooks of the Dallas Morning News.

This article appears in February 8 • 2008.

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