U.S. Rep. Phil English won't debate his challenger in this year's congressional race until his opponent proves she is a "viable candidate," his campaign manager said.

AnnDrea Benson, a Green Party candidate who launched her campaign last week, sent a letter to English blasting him for not jumping at the chance to debate her on the issues.

English, a fourth-term Republican incumbent from Erie, and Ms. Benson are squaring off in a race to represent the new 3rd District. The district includes all of Erie County and parts of Mercer, Crawford, Butler, Warren, Armstrong and Venango counties.

In her letter, Ms. Benson said she contacted the Erie Chamber of Commerce to see if it would sponsor a debate. The chamber said it would but "only between willing opponents and you (English) had refused," Ms. Benson said.

"That was a little spin-doctoring on her part. We never said flat-out that we weren't going to do debates. We said that we weren't going to commit to any yet and won't until she proves her candidacy to be viable," said Josh Snyder, English's campaign manager.

"To this point, Ms. Benson has proven to be nothing more than a fringe candidate. She has more songs than issue papers," Snyder said.

During a campaign stop last week at The Herald, Ms. Benson -- accompanied by her husband and her campaign manager -- sang a song on the importance of removing English from office to the tune of "Bye, Bye Blackbird," with "English" in place of the bird.

Snyder said Ms. Benson has identified problems without offering solutions and filed no campaign-finance disclosure reports.

Ms. Benson's response to Snyder's comments: "To have characterized me as a 'fringe' candidate disparages important differences of public policy that the public deserves to hear before the election," Snyder responded. I am a serious candidate with a serious message. I will match my ideas and business and legislative backgrounds with his (English's) any day of the week."