Rep. Mazie Hirono‘s campaign for Senate has responded to former Congressman Ed Case‘s call for a series of 25 debates between him and Hirono before the Aug. 11 primary. 

A spokeswoman for the Hirono campaign said it’s “important for people to hear directly from the candidates,” and cited Hirono’s recent “coffee talk” events across the islands (Hirono has such events planned on Kauai and on Oahu this week). 

“During the campaign she will participate in constructive forums which provide voters useful information, have meaningful reach and do not conflict with her congressional duties,” the Hirono campaign said. “We will be releasing our proposed criteria for evaluating joint appearances.”

Because Case is not currently an elected official, he has more time to focus exclusively on campaigning than Hirono. We’re likely to hear plenty more from the Case camp about his grassroots campaigning in Hawaii in the coming months.