Debate

WASHINGTON - Pundit Bill O’Reilly and comedian Jon Stewart will square off Saturday night at Lisner Auditorium in a mock political debate. Billed as "The Rumble 2012" in an evocation of a prize fight, the sold-out show will be available over the Internet through live streaming. When the two men step behind their podiums, the biggest question may not be who will knock out whom, but whether these two combatants will prevent the rhetorical smackdown from becoming more lovefest than tongue-lashing.

DENVER — In a showdown at close quarters, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney sparred aggressively in their first campaign debate Wednesday night over taxes, deficits and strong steps needed to create jobs in a sputtering national economy. “The status quo is not going to cut it,” declared the challenger.

WASHINGTON — The public has a lot of questions for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney as the first debate Wednesday night in Denver approaches.

SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch faced his challenger Friday in the pair’s only debate ahead of the June 26 primary when voters will decide whether to send the longtime senator back to Washington for a seventh and final term.

Hatch rebuffed efforts by former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist to face off in televised debates, and turned down an offer by KSL for a primetime event, instead agreeing only to appear on a morning political radio show. Hatch said he wanted to focus more on town hall meetings.

The hour-long debate was broadcast live on KSL Newsradio with host Doug Wright, who served as the moderator.

WASHINGTON TERRACE — When it comes to Ryan Combe and Donna McAleer, it’s legacy versus diverse experience.

SALT LAKE CITY -- U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and his key Republican challengers met in their second and final debate before this weekend's state convention, with each emphasizing their strengths in a final push for delegate votes.

Like their previous debate several weeks ago, Monday night's affair between Hatch, state Rep. Chris Herrod and former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist on the campus of Dixie State College in St. George was congenial and didn't deliver the expected blows aimed at the incumbent senator. Candidates focused on the expansion of federal powers, the growing national debt and energy development.

Hatch has emphasized repeatedly the importance of his congressional seniority, especially the power he has over the federal budget as the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. He continued to do that Monday, making it clear to delegates that losing his influence in Washington will significantly hamper efforts to balance the budget and open the state's public lands to oil and natural gas exploration.

SALT LAKE CITY -- With less than three weeks until the Utah Republican state convention, the best opportunity for U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch's two main challengers to sway delegates could come Wednesday night during a sold-out debate that will be broadcast online.