George Allen quickly quelled speculation he would dodge other Republicans competing for the U.S. Senate nomination in Virginia in a series of debates in the weeks leading up to the primary election. He said Monday that he will participate.

The Republican Party of Virginia late last week sent invitations for three debates to the five Senate campaigns and the less established candidates immediately wondered out loud whether the front-runner Allen would show. Allen, a former governor and senator, is already participating in a December debate with presumptive Democratic nominee Tim Kaine, months before the June Republican primary.