U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson today accepted a CNN / Tampa Bay Times debate in Tampa and one proposed by Leadership Florida jointly with the Florida Press Association.

Presumptive Republican nominee Rep. Connie Mack angered his lesser-known rivals in the GOP primary by refusing to debate them. But, this morning, Mack publicly pushed Nelson to accept future debate invites and told the Herald/Times he's ready to debate Nelson in Tampa. His campaign announced it had accepted a debate offered by WTSP in Tampa, its CBS sister stations in Florida, C-SPAN and Florida Gannett newspapers to take place in the first week of October on the campus of USF.

Republicans are hoping to help secure a majority in the Senate by unseating Nelson, who is seeking his third term.

The date, rules and format of the debates are undecided.

Twitter: @Britt_alana