From Eric Dondero:

This is a strange twist. Typically, Republicans are concerned that Libertarian candidates will take votes away from them, and tend to oppose their inclusion in debates. While Democrats do the same for Green Party candidates.

But not in Montana. Longtime Republican incumbent Congressman Denny Rehberg is telling MT media that it's a no go, unless perrenial Libertarian candidate for Congress Mike Fellows is included.

From the Missoulian.com "Rehberg insists all parties participate in debates; some in media disagree" Oct. 9:

Another newspaper tried but failed to schedule a debate between just Rehberg and McDonald, on grounds that Fellows wasn't campaigning in its readership area.

Rehberg has refused to debate McDonald unless Fellows is included.

Some news organizations in the past have chosen not to invite third-party, or fourth-party, candidates to their debates. It's an attempt to focus the debate on the Republican and Democratic candidates who likely will draw more than 90 percent of the votes.

Rehberg's campaign manager Evan Wilson condemned this practice.

"As far as some in the media trying to exclude candidates from the debates, Denny thinks that is just plain wrong," Wilson said. "The media shouldn't get to pick and choose which candidates the public gets to hear from."

Note - Fellows also happens to be State Chairman of the Libertarian Party.