Four UK Student groups are hoping they’ll be the first to land a debate between Alison Lundergan Grimes and Mitch McConnell.
The coalition comprised of the Student Activities Board, UK Student Government, the Federalist Society, and the UK College of Law’s American Constitution Society, made a public pitch to that effect on Friday.
ACS co-president Chris Stewart says even though the two have not officially responded to the invitation, which went out in early May, he remains optimistic that they'll eventually sign on.
"Fancy Farm is this weekend, and that's really the traditional kick off of the campaign season in Kentucky so I think that once it gets moving forward we're going to really see that come together and we'll get a resolution to this real soon," Stewart told WUKY.
UK President Eli Capilouto said he was appreciative that the effort to land the candidates was one hundred percent student-driven.
"I was a student in 1968 on a college campus during a time of unrest and upheaval in this country. My university at the time was able to host Robert Kennedy, a candidate for President just six weeks before he was assassinated. Many other political figures were on that campus that year, and I'll bet every student, who like me, involved in student government and activities similar to yours holds that memory for a lifetime. So, this is what I hope you get to take with you," Capilouto told the group's representatives.
If they say yes, the debate would be held in either late September or early October at UK’s Singletary Center.
The debate would be televised on WKYT in Lexington, WYMT in Hazard, and other stations across the Commonwealth.
