Patch to Cover Wagner-Martin Debate Live

Ann Wagner and Ed Martin, Republican candidates for the U.S. Representative 2nd District, will debate at 6 p.m. Monday at in O'Fallon. The debate will be blogged live by Patch Editor Joe Scott and Brian Flinchpaugh.

The Lewis and Clark Pachyderms of Western St. Charles County host the event.

Those wishing to read the live Patch blog can log on to ofallon.patch.com at 6 p.m. and the event should start shortly afterwards. There will be opportunity for readers to comment live. The commentators will post any appropriate comments.

Previous debates have focused on health care, the federal budget deficit, private and public sector unions, immigration and Social Security.

Wagner and Martin are seeking the seat that U.S. Rep. Todd Akin R-2nd District, will vacate to run against Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2012.

No Democrat has formally declared candidacy, but speculation has centered on U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan. So far, Carnahan has been the odd man out after Missouri lost a congressional seat through redistricting.

However, Democrats are challenging the redistricting process in a lawsuit, which states that the districts were gerrymandered.