GOP Lt. Guv Candidate A No-Show At Forum

CHICAGO (CBS) - Jason Plummer, the Republican candidate for Illinois lieutenant governor, is firing back at claims he's been passing up chances to publicly debate his opponents.

Plummer missed a debate Thursday at WMAQ-TV studios in Chicago that included Democrat Sheila Simon and independent candidate Baxter Swilley.

An empty chair stood where Plummer would've been.

Plummer tells The Associated Press he's been to other events where he thought Simon would be and that she hasn't shown up.

The candidates are both confirmed for a debate at WTTW-TV in Chicago on Monday.

Plummer and Simon have appeared together at other events, but those events haven't been open to the media.