It’s unclear whether Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy will agree to debate his Republican opponent Jonathan Scott in the contest for Rhode Island’s first congressional district seat.

Scott has called on the incumbent lawmaker to face him for a series of four debates. With the election less than six weeks away, Kennedy has not committed either way.

When asked to respond last week, Kennedy press secretary Kerrie Bennett said she had yet to receive a formal debate request.

But, she said, “We are in the process of scheduling joint appearances.”

Bennett did not respond to follow-up questions on whether the “joint appearances” might constitute a debate.

Meanwhile, Scott has kicked off a “Work-a-Day” initiative, a series of campaign-related appearances in which Scott will spend time at Rhode Island businesses. He announced the initiative at Spike’s Junkyard Dogs, a Thayer Street restaurant that specializes in hot dogs.

In a statement, Scott also invited Kennedy to join him on these work days. The statement noted that Kennedy had previously said that he “never worked a day in [his] life.”

Bennett did not respond to that criticism. But she had this to say: “The congressman understands the struggles Rhode Islanders are facing right now. He doesn’t believe this is the time for political gimmicks or stunts, when people’s livelihoods are at stake. He is committed to working on behalf of his constituents as Congress considers legislation to get the economy back on track.”

— Steve Peoples