Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential 19th Congressional District candidate, Democrat Zephyr Teachout on Mon., Aug. 15, challenged hedge fund managers Paul Singer and Robert Mercer to a debate. Singer and Mercer help fund a super PAC that supports Teachout's Republican rival John Faso. Teachout said in a statement, “The voters deserve to hear directly from the billionaires backing John Faso about what they expect to get from him in Congress....These are people probably trying to buy power, and voters should know who they are and what they stand for.” In a video, Teachout called out Singer specifically, asking him to debate on offshore jobs, Common Core and hydraulic fracturing. In response, the Faso campaign called Teachout a carpetbagger and accused the Fordham law professor of grandstanding. Faso said in a statement, “She has no grasp of the everyday concerns of the people of this district....Rather than discussing jobs and the upstate economy, she attempts to distract attention from her radical views.” Mercer contributed $500,000 to the PAC; Singer donated $600,000 to the group created to keep the 19th Congressional District seat in the Republican column. Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson currently holds the seat; he is not seeking re-election. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.