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UPDATED: Walter Dalton's campaign issued a statement thanking GOP opponent Pat McCrory for accepting the proposal for eight town hall debates across the state.

But it turns out McCrory didn't accept, his campaign says. "Mr. Dalton and his campaign team clearly need some rest after his hard fought win in his primary campaign," McCrory said. "Instead, the McCrory campaign will continue to review the multitude of debate requests and of course plans to accept as many as possible."

UPDATED: Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton is calling for eight town hall debates with Republican rival Pat McCrory across the state before the November election.

In a Monday press conference in Charlotte, Dalton proposed two debates a month at community colleges across North Carolina. The town hall forums come on top of the traditional debates held in October, he suggests.

McCrory's campaign issued a statement later Monday but it didn't directly address Dalton's challenge. "Of course, there will be debates in the race for governor, and the McCrory campaign has already been discussing multiple requests from sponsors throughout North Carolina. The campaign will announce each debate upon accepting the invitations," the statement read.

The major Democratic candidates have held countless forums and three live TV debates. The Republicans? None.

Sure, former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is the presumptive GOP nominee. And yes, his challengers are mounting low-budget, low-visibility campaigns. But at least one Republican rival is challenging McCrory to a debate.

Paul Wright, a former Superior Court judge, is positioning himself as the real conservative in the race. And he is worried conservatives are being neglected as McCrory focuses on a November matchup against the Democrats.

"What's good for Democrats is good for Republican voters," he said of debates. "I do think some of the positions that are dear to the conservatives won't even get heard without a debate."

UPDATED: A preliminary debate schedule for the Democratic gubernatorial primary is taking shape. 

The Democratic candidates for governor are likely to face off at least four times, including three debates in a three-day stretch at the start of early voting.

So far the candidates are tentatively planning to attend these televised debates: April 17 on UNC-TV, aired statewide; April 18 on WNCN-TV (NBC 17) in Raleigh; and April 19 on WRAL-TV in Raleigh. The capital city's ABC affiliate station (WTVD-TV) is still finalizing its date for a debate, sometime between March 21 and April 11, but multiple candidates said they would attend.

The back-to- back dates are designed to give voters a look at the candidates before early voting begins April 19. The campaigns said the schedule may change and other  debates are possible and as they juggle numerous requests.

TESTY EXCHANGE: The N.C. Senate candidates engaged in a testy debate Thursday, complete with accusations of "gutter" politics and support for "governmental discrimination." (N&O)

TRUTH SQUAD: Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall clashed on a range of issues Thursday night. But did the candidates have their facts straight? (N&O)

CUTTING RED TAPE: No more dumb rules, Gov. Bev Perdue said Thursday. (N&O)

Democratic U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of Wilson will debate his Republican challenger, Ashley Woolard of Washington, N.C., on Sunday.

The one hour debate will be televised on NBC-17 in the Triangle and will air starting at 1 p.m. It is apparently will be the first time the 1st District congressional foes will have met, Rob Christensen reports.

The debate will be moderated by political reporter/anchor Kim Genardo who has become the debate maestro of this current campaign.

The debate will be taped Wednesday.

The North Carolina Senate candidates have agreed to three televised debates this fall, the most of any recent election.

Republican Sen. Richard Burr and his Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall, will discuss the issues on  Oct. 13 on NBC 17 in Raleigh at 8 p.m. The debate is sponsored by the television station and by the N.C. League of Women Voters, Rob Christensen reports. 

The candidates have also agreed to two debates sponsored by the N.C. Association of Broadcasters Foundation scheduled for Oct. 11 and Oct. 21. Details of those debates have not yet been worked out.

The major reason why there are so many debates is because Burr has agreed to them. Often well-financed incumbents who are leading in the polls avoid debates because they don't want to give any publicity to their challenger.

But Burr said shortly after the spring primaries, that he was willing and eager to debate. The candidates have already held one debate in June in Wilmington at a meeting of the State Bar Association.

It was not clear whether Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler would participate in the debates.

Thursday night's Democratic primary debate between U.S. Senate candidates Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham had plenty of awkward exchanges.

Moderators David Crabtree and Pam Saulsby were intent on pinning the candidates down to "yes" or "no" answers during a "lightning round" segment. Sounds easy enough, right?

Well not so much. "Would you vote for a second stimulus package?" had both candidates trying to explain that you can't answer that question without knowing more about the bill: "It depends upon what's in it," a slightly exasperated Marshall said. 

The exchange got worse for everybody involved from there. And the day after the debate, the awkward silences and answers appeared to be turning into campaign issues.

DEBATE FALLOUT: The U.S. Senate debate between Democrats Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall may not have changed any minds, but it did reflect an increasingly sharp tone to the campaign. (N&O)

STILL NO COMMENT: Authorities remain tight-lipped on why a state trooper is being investigated by law enforcement agencies. (N&O)

AIN'T BORING: Tensions continue to mount in the 8th District race for the U.S. House. (Charlotte Observer)