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Sen. Orrin Hatch and his GOP challenger Dan Liljenquist have finalized plans for a radio debate next week. But Liljenquist is continuing to attack Hatch for avoiding debates on television, so he has also completed plans for a "debate" with a cardboard cut-out of Hatch on Thursday as a form of protest.

The two plan to debate face-to-face on the Doug Wright talk show on KSL Radio (1160 AM and 102.7 FM) on June 15 at 9 a.m.

"It will be an hour long and commercial-free," said Lee Lonsberry, producer for the program. "We will be soliciting questions from listeners via FaceBook, texting and email."

Lonsberry said KSL will also allow photographers from any interested news outlets into the session. However, Holly Richardson, campaign manager for Liljenquist, complained that Hatch had vetoed an offer to record the entire debate for playback later on prime-time TV.

Dave Hansen, Hatch's campaign manager, said, "There was some talk of putting it on TV, but we said no. It is a radio debate and needs to stay what it is."

"It shows that Hatch is afraid to be seen debating," Richardson said, adding that it's unclear whether Hatch would attend the radio show in person or call in. Hansen said, however, that Hatch plans to be in the studio.

Liljenquist contends that his performance in two early debates with the senator won him enough support to stop Hatch from winning his party's nomination in the state Republican convention — and explains why Hatch has since refused to debate with large in-person audiences.

Hatch's campaign said the two earlier debates were sufficient, and are available on YouTube. It also said Hatch's campaign and Washington schedules would prevent a televised debate — even though TV stations offered to fly participants to Washington and record it there.

"There are other ways to reach the voters besides debates," said Hansen. "When the senator was in town last week [during the Senate's Memorial Day recess], he had a series of events where he met with more than 1,500 people. They were able to ask him questions. We find that is more rewarding to them than listening where a moderator determines what the questions are going to be."

Meanwhile, Liljenquist will debate the cardboard cut-out of Hatch on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Sons of the Utah Pioneers headquarters, 3301 E. 2920 South, in Salt Lake City.

Richardson says since Hatch refuses a debate in front of an audience, Liljenquist will hold one anyway — with the cut-out plus videotaped statements of Hatch to show his stand on issues. Of course, they may not be statements the Hatch campaign would want portrayed.

"There are about 250 seats there, and we expect it to be full," with the public invited, Richardson said.

Hansen dismissed the event as a gimmick. "It's not even an original gimmick. It's been used in other states," he said. —

U.S. Senate GOP `debates'

P Radio debate • June 15 at 9 a.m. on the Doug Wright talk show on KSL radio (1160 AM and 102.7 FM). Sen. Orrin Hatch and Dan Liljenquist will meet face-to-face.

Mock debate • Liljenquist will "debate" a cardboard cut-out of Hatch and videos of his past statements, to protest Hatch dodging TV debates, on Thursday at7 p.m. at the Sons of Utah Pioneers headquarters, 3301 E. 2920 South, Salt Lake City.