U.S Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, and Democrat Cheri Bustos have both accepted invitations to local televised debates.

The only problem is that neither has accepted an invitation to a debate at which their opponent will be present.

Rep. Schilling has agreed to take part in a televised debate organized by televisions station WQAD in partnership with The Dispatch and Rock Island Argus on Oct. 10.

Ms. Bustos so far has not said if she will attend the debate but has not ruled out doing so. She has, though, accepted an invitation to one on Oct. 13 sponsored by KWQC-TV and the Quad-City Times.

But Rep. Schilling definitively has ruled out attending that one.

"We felt that one debate was ample for the Quad-City area," said Schilling spokesman Jon Schweppe.

The two campaigns are in dispute over how an attempt to hold talks on the debates broke down.

A meeting between the two campaigns had been scheduled for Aug. 3, but that now looks unlikely to happen, according to staffers from the two sides.

The candidates could still face off in debates in either Peoria or Rockford, the other two major markets in the 17th District.

"Cheri looks forward to public appearances with incumbent Congressman Bobby Schilling," said Bustos campaign manager Allison Jaslow.

In Iowa's 2nd District, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon, and his Republican opponent John Archer have both agreed to attend a televised debate that will be aired by KWQC on Oct. 20.

Opposing candidates frequently clash over debate schedules and formats.

In 2010, when Rep. Schilling was running as a candidate against former Democratic Rep. Phil Hare, the pair argued over a the number and kind of debates they should have. But the pair did eventually agree to both attend one televised debate, broadcast by public television station WQPT.