Will Louisiana’s U.S. Senate candidates debate? Bill Cassidy says no to Moon Griffon.

Louisiana’s U.S. Senate campaign was stuck Tuesday in a debate about debates.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, fighting for his political life against two formidable Republican opponents, rejected a debate invitation issued last week by conservative radio talk show host Moon Griffon, who has nicknamed the senator “Psycho Bill.”

Griffon said his program offers the best forum for conservatives to hear from candidates in advance of the May 18 party primary.

Treasurer John Fleming and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow have agreed to the debate, which Griffon said would take place in his Lafayette radio station studio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 28. Griffon appears on affiliates throughout Louisiana.

Meanwhile, Letlow has yet to accept Cassidy’s challenge from March 6 that she agree to three televised debates. Two TV networks have offered to host the events.

“Day 18: What is Liberal Letlow Hiding?” read a headline in a press release issued by Cassidy’s campaign staff on Tuesday. “Louisiana voters are still waiting for an answer. This would be Letlow’s first real debate opportunity in a competitive statewide race, and instead of stepping up, she continues to avoid the spotlight.”

The Letlow campaign did not respond to a request for an interview with her on Tuesday.

Is talk radio the right venue?

Answering a question in a call with Louisiana reporters, Cassidy said a debate on Griffon’s radio network wouldn’t attract a big enough audience.

“Anyone with a lick of sense, unless they’re promoting their own show, understands that a primetime TV station is where we should be,” Cassidy said. “You want the maximal opportunity for the people on that debate to explain their position.”

Griffon on his program Tuesday ridiculed Cassidy’s view.

“Most people will watch it later in the day, later in the night,” Griffon said in his trademark Cajun growl. “Cassidy doesn’t understand that at all.”

On Monday, Griffon pledged to treat Cassidy fairly, saying he wouldn’t ask any “gotcha” questions.

But on Tuesday, Griffon blasted Cassidy, saying of Letlow and Fleming, “Compared to him, they are super great…. We will have two candidates here to talk about the issues.”

Griffon went on to complain that Cassidy appeared on his show for years until the radio host lit into him for voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. The vote led Griffon to brand Cassidy as “Psycho Bill.”

Griffon said 1,915 days have passed since Cassidy has been on his show.

Cassidy said Fleming and Letlow would have a home field advantage on Griffon’s program. He said the host does not raise questions about Letlow’s failure to report individual stock trades more than a year late. Cassidy and a super PAC supporting him have pounded Letlow on this issue.

During commercial breaks, listeners heard ads for Letlow and Fleming but none from Cassidy.

Letlow’s ad repeatedly noted that President Donald Trump has endorsed her in the Senate race.

Fleming’s ad describes how he worked his way through college, became a doctor for the Navy and then opened a general practice, has operated businesses, was elected to Congress and worked for the first Trump administration.

On a daily basis, Griffon rails against liberals and Democrats and praises Trump. He also sometimes criticizes Republicans, including then-Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. Jeff Landry for, in his view, straying from the conservative line.

Frustrated that Cassidy won’t agree to appear with Letlow and Fleming, Griffon upped the ante on Tuesday, calling on Cassidy to debate him one on one.

On Monday, Jim Engster, who hosts the biggest talk radio program in Baton Rouge — one that is not openly partisan or ideological — offered to host a debate.

Speaking of Griffon, Engster added, “He is a partisan. Because of that, I think Cassidy would be out of his mind to go on that show.”

Engster then noted that Cassidy rejected calls that he debate his opponents during his 2020 reelection campaign.

The senator probably would not debate his Democratic opponent in November if he wins the Republican primary, Engster predicted. Cassidy would probably be heavily favored in that election against either Nick Albares, Jamie Davis or Gary Crockett.