Incumbent Congressman refuses to debate challenger

CHESTER, Md. - Incumbent Republican Congressman Andy Harris Thursday again refused a request by Democratic challenger Dr. John LaFerla at a town hall meeting. The one-term Congressman told his challenger that he decided not to debate him because he "was not technically on the ballot and he was not obligated to debate with a 'write-in candidate.'"

Dr. LaFerla, who has been endorsed by the state's Democratic party as a write-in candidate. He replaced Wendy Rosen, who was forced to withdraw from the 1st District race after it was discovered that she had voted in 2006 and 2008 in both Florida and Maryland. Her name, however, remains on the ballot.