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OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial candidates Jon Huntsman Jr. and Nolan Karras won't be debating north of Salt Lake City before the June 22 primary.
Huntsman had rejected debate offers from northern Utah groups for several months, but reversed course last week and asked to face off against Karras at the Ogden Rotary Club's Wednesday meeting.
Greg Haws, of the Ogden Rotary Club, said Huntsman's campaign manager called Friday -- about a month after the candidate had decided against debating in Ogden -- to ask for the meeting debate.
But because of Huntsman's previous wavering, the club decided against the meeting.
"A couple of board members were offended by the whole thing," Haws said.
Huntsman campaign manager Jason Chaffetz said the candidate tinkered with his schedule last week and discovered Wednesday was open.
"We understand they cannot accommodate us," he said. "We don't blame them in the least, and we don't hold any grudge. Jon just wanted to see if we could come up there."
Even though they don't debate, both candidates have made several individual appearances in northern Utah.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
