Duncan Opponents on Hunger Strikes

New York Times (2010-08-18) Janie Lorber

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Duncan Opponents on Hunger Strikes

By JANIE LORBER

Rep. Duncan D. Hunter’s challengers want to debate him so badly they can taste it – probably because they haven’t eaten anything for days.

In an effort to force Mr. Hunter, the Republican incumbent in California’s 52nd district, into a series of eight debates in August, Ray Lutz, the Democratic candidate, began a hunger strike at sundown on Aug. 12. Mike Benoit, the Libertarian candidate, quickly followed suit.

So far, Mr. Lutz has missed 17 meals and lost 14 pounds. He’s pledged to continue his fast until Friday.

Still, Mr. Hunter will not acquiesce, agreeing only to a few face-offs in October.

“My hope is that he holds out and doesn’t expire before October because that’s when we’re going to debate him, and we’ve told him that several times,” a spokesman for Mr. Hunter said, referring to Mr. Lutz, in an interview with Politico.

Mr. Hunter is expected to win re-election easily in his reliably red district. In 2009 he replaced his retiring father, Duncan Hunter, who served 14 terms before making an unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.