Pat Meehan, the Republican candidate in the 7th Congressional District race, decided he will not attend an upcoming debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Delaware County.

Meehan made the decision last night after a planning session, according to his spokeswoman, Virginia Davis.

Third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller was invited to this debate. Schneller got on the ballot with the help of Democratic activists who circulated his nominating petitions.

Meehan will not debate both Democratic candidate state Rep. Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, and "his running mate Jim Schneller," said Davis.

The campaign for Lentz criticized Meehan and his performance at a debate at the Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron.

"It was clear from the Havertown debate that Pat Meehan lacked a basic grasp of his talking points, let alone the issues," said Kevin McTigue, campaign manager for Lentz, in an e-mailed statement. "And it's clear from his decision to pull out of the League of Women Voter's debate that he will continue to hide behind his special interest friends like Americans for Job Security, hoping they can buy the election for him. Unfortunately for Meehan, the voters are smarter than that."

The debate is scheduled for Oct. 14.