Who's dodging who when it comes to debates in the Louisiana Senate race? Depends on who you're debating with -- David Vitter or Charlie Melancon.

I talked to the Democrat Melancon about his challenge to Vitter of "five open, honest televised debates around the state." Melancon says Vitter has only agreed to five others "in front of TEA Party people."

That last comment itself is -- if not dishonest -- erroneous. The Vitter campaign says only one of those five debates is sponsored by a TEA Party -- one of the local ones, the Red River TEA Party. (The others are/were the Louisiana Municipal Association, Alliance for Good Government, Crowley Chamber of Commerce, and a statewide televised debate by WWL-TV in New Orleans three days before the November election. ) Melancon has agreed to the latter one.

But don't look for him on Thursday, September 16th at the TEA Party-sponsored candidates forum. Melancon told me he won't appear before any TEA Party group. Which puzzled me. Since he's down in the polls, (which he also disagrees with) I asked why he doesn't want to get his Blue Dog fiscal conservative message out to them? "Aren't these people you need to reach?" I asked.

"I've had town hall meetings. And the TEA Party people all they want to do is embarrass you and yell and scream," Melancon told me.

"Not our group," says Royal Alexander of the Red River TEA Party. "But that's his choice. It's a good chance for exposure if he wants it. We treat people very respectfully."

Still, Melancon feels the audience and questions would be stacked against him.

Of course, Vitter, ahead in the polls despite some personal troubles, is not going to appear everywhere his chief challenger wants. That's basic political strategy. And now that challenger is alienating a vast group of voters who --if not active in the TEA Party -- agree with the TEA Party stance of fiscal responsibility.

So Melancon is stuck with attacking Vitter by buying ad time (where he's at a huge funding disadvantage) and getting free media, (like our interview for the news.) That doesn't sound like a recipe for an underdog win. But, again, that's his choice.