ST. PAUL — The debate about debates rages on in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race.

After seeing his proposal for six debates pared back to three, Republican challenger Mike McFadden says Sen. Al Franken’s campaign is now holding up debate negotiations. McFadden called on Franken to agree to earlier debates from the State Fair on Friday and objected to the prospect of their first debate taking place in late October.

McFadden says he thinks the two should meet at least once before early voting commences in mid-September, and has pushed for more debates in Greater Minnesota.

Franken’s campaign says McFadden’s team hasn’t negotiated in good faith. They hope to move the first debate to early October.

The two candidates already debated once in early August at the annual FarmFest trade show.