Hoffa To Debate Challenger

In an about-face from the previous election, Teamsters President James P. Hoffa says he will debate challenger Tom Leedham in the race for the top spot in the union.

According to Traffic World, the debate will take place Sept. 21 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Leedham's campaign had made an issue out of Hoffa refusing to debate. During the Teamsters convention in Las Vegas earlier this summer, Leedham told Hoffa to "debate the issues like a real Teamster."
Hoffa beat Leedham in the 1998 election, a three-way race. Hoffa got 54 percent of the vote, Leedham 40 percent. The third candidate, John Metz, got 6 percent. Metz is now lending his support to Leedham.