But Murkowski and his opponent in the Aug. 27 Republican primary, Wayne Anthony Ross, will debate at a noon lunch Thursday at the Petroleum Club, said Murkowski campaign spokesman Dan Saddler.

Democrat Ulmer's campaign staff was miffed Monday, saying Murkowski backed out on a commitment to appear Thursday evening at the Tanana Valley Fair.

Meanwhile, Ross, who has been struggling to draw attention to his campaign, was thrilled that Murkowski would stay in Anchorage. He complains that Murkowski, a U.S. senator, has been staying in Washington, D.C., to avoid the primary campaign.

"You mean we're actually going to see the phantom campaigner?" Ross asked. "Seeing Murkowski is like sighting Elvis. I hear rumors that he's actually alive, in the flesh, in Anchorage."

Murkowski's staff has told reporters and Ulmer that he planned to be at the Tanana Valley Fair, a traditional forum that has drawn a crowd of would-be governors. It's a chance for the front-runners to mingle with the long-shots and for Interior voters to see candidates up close.

Sixteen candidates have entered the governor's race this year. Linda Witt of the League of Women Voters, which is organizing the forum, said all were invited last month.

But Ross said he did not receive his fair invitation until last week and had promised to speak to an Anchorage Republican women's luncheon at the Petroleum Club.

Saddler said Murkowski changed plans so that he could appear with Ross.

Four candidates have entered the race for governor as Republicans. Murkowski holds a big lead, pollsters say. Ross is a distant second.

"We're going where Ross is. He's our man," Saddler said.

The other Republican candidates are Brad Snowden and Eric Weiler.

Ulmer and Murkowski have been attempting to organize a series of debates before the general election Nov. 5. Nordlund said he spoke with Murkowski campaign manager Bill Gordon about two weeks ago, to match schedules.

"I said we're going to be there in Fairbanks. Gordon said, 'OK, we're going to be there too,' " Nordlund recalled. "Now, the first thing we're going to try to negotiate, they pull out."

Saddler called the change of plans a "scheduling hiccup." Tanana Valley Fair organizers had told the Murkowski campaign staff that Ross would be at the forum. "There's no bad faith here," Saddler said.

Ulmer still plans to attend the forum Thursday evening, Nordlund said.

Reporter Ben Spiess can be reached at bspiess@adn.com or 1-907-257-4464.