Dear Friends,

It’s on!! We have our first debate with Keith Ellison scheduled for the Minnesota State Fair.  Ellison has publicly confirmed via Twitter that he will attend.

The debate will be sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio and moderated by MPR Political Editor Mike Mulcahy. It will feature questions from Mulcahy, the State Fair audience, telephone from the radio audience, and online questions.

This is the first scheduled debate of this election season.  It will be held from 12 noon to 1 pm on Wednesday, August 29.

I have challenged Ellison to agree to a series of debates, one in every city of the district.  I have also approached the Minneapolis Urban League and Move to Amend and asked those organizations to host additional debates.  We are also in early talks about a debate to be sponsored by the online newspaper, The Patch.

Keith’s campaign staff will try to convince him to dodge these debates because they don’t want his flawed policies and dismal record exposed.   I’m hopeful he’ll show some backbone and debate the issues that are important to people.

Many have suggested that Ellison may be intimidated by the fact that I am a combat tested Marine Corps veteran and that I grew up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in America.  He can prove he’s not by showing up to the debates we have proposed. 

In case you missed it:  Just yesterday the Star Tribune reported on the recent influx of out-of-state cash in congressional campaigns.

I find it interesting that the Star Tribune addressed the fact that 80% of Representative Bachmann’s donations come from outside the state but failed to mention that Keith Ellison also receives 80% of his money from outside the state.  I understand how Bachmann gained a national following; she was a Presidential Candidate after all.  What is unclear is why and how Keith Ellison attracts so much national money. I strongly believe Keith’s outside money is the leading cause of his lack of focus on our district.

In these debates I’ll demonstrate that I will provide the focused leadership and attention needed to move us forward.

ABOUT: Chris Fields is the alternative to Keith Ellison in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District.  Chris is a retired combat veteran who honorably served his country for more than 21 years in the United States Marine Corps.  His message of reform, responsibility, and accountability is encouraging people from diverse backgrounds and political persuasions to Come Together to support a leader that will make real and tangible changes to a broken political system.