Boxer and Fiorina set to debate

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After weeks of wrangling over the details, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and her Republican challenger Carly Fiorina have agreed to their first debate, which will take place on Sept. 1 in Moraga, Calif.

The hourlong televised forum is being sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle, KTVU Channel 2 news and KQED Public Radio at St. Mary’s College. KTVU Political Editor Randy Shandobil will serve as moderator, and the candidates will field questions from San Francisco Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci, KQED host Scott Shafer and La Opinion Reporter Pilar Marrero, according to a release from the Chronicle.

On the night that Fiorina won the GOP primary, Boxer’s campaign manager sent a letter to Fiorina opening discussions about the debates. Fiorina campaign staffers said they proposed seven debates — five in local markets around the state and two that would be nationally televised.

Fiorina’s team said the Boxer camp did not offer a counter-proposal and accused Boxer’s aides of stalling in the debate negotiation process. In mid-July, the Fiorina team announced that it had accepted 11 debate invitations, including Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace and NBC’s Meet the Press.

So far, Boxer’s campaign has agreed only to the Sept. 1 forum.

-- Maeve Reston in Los Angeles