Nebraska’s three Republican Senate candidates reached an impasse Monday over debates. David Kramer and Pete Ricketts jointly agreed to a series of 3 to 5 debates and invited Don Stenberg to join them. But Stenberg said he would not participate unless both of his opponents sign a pledge “not to run attack ads” against him, or each other, during the primary campaign.

“My inexperienced and unknown opponents need debates.  I don’t,” the former three-term attorney general said.

Both Ricketts and Kramer declined to sign an earlier pledge sought by Stenberg not to make any reference to any Republican opponent in campaign advertising.

Although the language in Stenberg’s proposed pledge differed from his Monday reference to “attack ads,” Stenberg said he was not drawing a distinction between his earlier choice of words.

“Obviously, Mr. Kramer and Mr. Ricketts think they cannot win on the strength of their own qualifications and positions on issues,” Stenberg said.  “That’s why they are planning attack ads against me.”

In a joint statement, Ricketts and Kramer pledged to pursue positive campaigns and announced their decision to move forward with scheduling debates.

“We commit to you that we will not make any personal attacks, nor will we distort or misrepresent the position of any of our opponents,” the two candidates wrote Stenberg.

In explaining why they would not sign Stenberg’s requested pledge not to refer to any opponent in campaign advertising, the pair wrote: “A candidate’s record, experience and differences on issues should be open to debate and review by the voters.”

Kramer is former Republican state chairman.

Ricketts is an Ameritrade executive who left his corporate post to seek the Senate seat.

The winner of the Republican primary election in May will face Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, who is expected to seek a second term in November.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.