U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka scaled back his fundraising during the first three weeks of October but still had more cash available than his Republican opponent, Windward state Rep. Cynthia Thielen, for the Nov. 7 general election.

Federal campaign-finance reports released yesterday show the Democratic senator raised $60,482 in the first three weeks of October and had $203,060 in cash on hand. The campaign owes $145,534 in debts. The senator has raised more than $2.7 million for his re-election campaign.

Thielen, who was appointed by the GOP in September to face Akaka, raised $131,845 in the first three weeks of October and had $142,161 in cash available. Thielen had raised $216,577 overall at the end of the reporting period, but her campaign said yesterday she is now up to $270,983.

Money is critical for Thielen so she can run advertising and raise her name recognition among voters. Thielen asked Akaka again yesterday for a debate or a joint appearance, but the Akaka campaign rejected the request.

"I believe that if the voters of Hawai'i are permitted to see us side by side, they can compare our records and our plans for the future," Thielen said in a statement. "A debate is the democratic thing to do."

The Akaka campaign agreed to one debate before the senator's Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Ed Case. The campaign dismissed the possibility of any debates between the senator and Thielen immediately after Thielen was appointed. Thielen was picked by Republicans to replace Jerry Coffee, a former Navy pilot and motivational speaker who won the Republican primary even though he had withdrawn because of poor health.

"Sen. Akaka is not going to debate Cynthia Thielen," said Elisa Yadao, the Akaka campaign's spokeswoman. "As we've said, she was not elected to run in this race."

The focus on the Senate race dropped off after the primary, since Akaka is favored to beat Thielen, and the pressure on the campaign to raise money has been reduced. But the campaign has been fundraising to cover ads, expenses and debts.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.