BOSTON -- Arizona Sen. John McCain on Monday accepted an invitation to debate fellow Republican presidential hopeful Texas Gov. George W. Bush during a Boston television station's regular newscasts.

McCain was the first of four presidential contenders to accept WCVB-TV's invitation to participate in a one-on-one debate on the station's newscasts between now and until Feb. 1, the date of the New Hampshire primary.

Bush has not yet responded, nor have Democratic contenders Vice President Al Gore or former senator Bill Bradley, who were invited to debate each other.

The candidates would not need to be in Boston to participate, said Linda Polach, the station's executive editor. Polach said she did not know how long the debates would be, or what the station would do if McCain alone accepted the offer.

McCain said the debates would give him another opportunity to distinguish himself from Bush.