Our Democratic friends have emailed the tip line asking why we haven't covered a report that Mary Fallin has allegedly cancelled debates with her opponent Dr. David Hunter. They sent us a link to the ODP website that chastises Fallin. "The race for the 5th District Congressional seat is getting interesting with Dr. Hunter now closing in on Mary Fallin who is ducking debates with the Democrat...Word is that she has refused to debate Dr. Hunter on a previously scheduled debate sponsored by KWTV9 and the OIPA. If she's really the frontrunner she should have no qualms about facing the good doctor". Since it's football season, a couple of football analogies are appropriate here. First, you know when the game you're watching is a blowout and the network switches you to a more interesting game? Similar situation. Dr. Hunter doesn't have a snowball's chance to defeat Fallin, so we have focused on more interesting races Second, when a team is winning in a blowout with only minutes or seconds remaining in the game, the winning team usually runs out the clock by keeping the ball on the ground or the quarterback takes a knee to stop the play. Similar situation. The major media are ignoring the race and Fallin is basically taking a knee. Why give your opponent unnecessary publicity? The Congressional Quarterly blog seems to agree that Fallin will be the next Congresswoman from the 5th district of Oklahoma. In an article titled, "On Their Way: Fallin Brings Rich Resume to Washington" they write: "If Oklahoma Republican Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin is elected Nov. 7 to the state's 5th District, as is widely expected, she will enter the 110th Congress next January as one of its most politically seasoned freshmen. Fallin, who appears certain to succeed seven-term Republican Rep. Ernest Istook, a candidate for governor, is finishing her 12th year as Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and previously served four years in the state House." Posted at 9/27/2006 11:19:00 AM