Sen. Brown Refuses Kennedy Institute Debate

Calling it a "partisan Kennedy debate," Sen. Scott Brown says he won't participate in a proposed fall match-up against Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

That's after the institute rejected Brown's conditions for taking part, including a demand that Kennedy's widow, Victoria Kennedy, "not endorse or otherwise get involved in this race.”

In a letter, the institute called that condition "unprecedented" and "inappropriate."

Brown's campaign shot back that the senator "cannot accept a debate invitation from someone who plans to endorse his opponent."

The Associated Press adds:

... representatives of the institute and [UMass-Boston] pointed out that newspapers and other media outlets routinely sponsor debates, and later endorse candidates.

Both organizations also sponsored a debate between Brown and Attorney General Martha Coakley in 2010.

The debate was to be moderated by longtime journalist Tom Brokaw.

Warren had already accepted the Kennedy institute debate invitation.