Gov. Rod Blagojevich severed negotiations for a gubernatorial debate Monday, quashing the chance for southern Illinoisans to see candidates spar in a formal setting.

Blagojevich said previously that he would agree to just two debates, one in southern Illinois and on a Chicago radio station. He said no debates would happen if Republican candidate Judy Baar Topinka did not show up, according to the Associated Press.

On Monday, Topinka spokesman John McGovern said Topinka would attend one of Blagojevich’s debates if he accepted an invitation for a debate on either Oct. 30 or Oct. 31 in Chicago or Springfield.

At the Columbus Day Parade in Chicago on Monday, the governor said Topinka failed to meet a 10 a.m. deadline, so debates will not be held.

“We would like to have had more, but she would never give us an answer, and she kept saying ‘no,'” Blagojevich told the Associated Press. “And I’m astounded that she would refuse to debate me.”

McGovern said Blagojevich’s decision to cancel possible debates was met with an appropriate response.

“We responded with a commonsense compromise so that the interest of both sides could be met,” McGovern said. “When he didn’t get his way, he picked up his toys and went home.”

The missed opportunity eliminates the chance of southern Illinois getting to hear the candidates speak in the same place at the same time, said Mike Lawrence, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Lawrence was part of a group attempting to set up a gubernatorial debate in southern Illinois.

“I think it’s regrettable, but I’m not surprised,” Lawrence said.

Green Party candidate Rich Whitney said the only logical reason he can think of for the cancellations is that Blagojevich is afraid to debate.

He said the difficulty in scheduling the event has been frustrating.

“It’s been like nailing Jell-O to a wall,” Whitney said.

Blagojevich’s campaign did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

Lawrence said it was disappointing to hear the debates won’t happen, and that the debates already held were not widely available throughout the state, except for one that was broadcast on the Internet.

The candidates had one debate Oct. 9 in Decatur. They also faced off in the spring on a Chicago news program.

“Debates are often an opportunity for people to hear candidates talk beyond sound bites,” Lawrence said.

The southern Illinois debate was postponed twice, with Topinka pulling out of the original date of Sept. 5 and Blagojevich unable to attend a Sept. 26 debate. Blagojevich suggested rescheduling it for Oct. 3, but Topinka had prior commitments.

The southern Illinois debate committee set a Sept. 29 deadline for the parties to reach an agreement, but it was missed. Committee members were from the institute, WSIU and The Southern Illinoisan.

Candidates were also expected to meet in front of the Chicago Tribune editorial board Monday and at a Chicago public television station later in the month.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wayne Utterback can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or [email protected].