Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall announced Friday that he would debate his Republican opponent Steve Pearce on three Albuquerque television stations as well as on NBC's Meet the Press.

The announcement represents a change for Udall, whose campaign manager, Amanda Cooper, recently insisted Udall would only engage in two debates in addition to the Meet the Press debate, which has yet to be scheduled.

A Pearce spokesman said Friday that his campaign has agreed on all the dates. They are:

• Oct. 15 on KOB.

• Oct. 18 on KRQE (co-sponsored by the American Association of Retired People).

• Oct. 26 on KOAT-7 (co-sponsored by The Albuquerque Journal).

The issue of debates has been an acrimonious one.

"We feel this schedule gives the people of New Mexico plenty of opportunity to see the candidates side by side," Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said. "Steve Pearce was more focused on theatrics and playing politics than on answering for his record on the issues. Now he has nothing left to hide behind."

Of Udall's announcement, Pearce spokesman Brian Phillips said: "They have finally capitulated due to constant pressure from our campaign and media outlets to stop ducking and stalling."

A letter from Pearce campaign manager John Billingsley to Cooper, obtained by The New Mexican, shows bitterness behind the scenes.

"We are tired of the games that the Udall campaign is playing with us, the television stations, and the voters," Billingsley wrote. "Can Congressman Udall explain why he continues to duck final approval on these debates?"

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.