‘This conversation shouldn’t be this difficult.’ Warnock still wants second debate with Walker
Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker will debate at least once before November’s election. But the Democratic incumbent wants one more shot at Walker before the midterms.
In an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer, Warnock expressed his frustration with Walker over debate scheduling. The debate over debates in Georgia’s Senate race began in June when Warnock accepted three event invitations and invited Walker to do the same.
Instead, Walker proposed a fourth debate in Savannah hosted by Nexstar Media Group, a company that owns local TV stations in Georgia and across the country.
Earlier this month, Warnock initially said he’d participate in the Nexstar debate only if certain conditions were met. Debate topics couldn’t be given to candidates ahead of time, and Walker had to agree to a second debate in Macon or Atlanta.
This week, Warnock accepted the Oct. 14 Nexstar debate — but Walker has yet to agree to a second meeting.
Warnock is continuing to push his opponent to accept another debate.
“This conversation shouldn’t be this difficult,” Warnock said. “(Walker) said he would debate me ‘anytime, any place.’ Those weren’t my words. Those were his words. If we can’t count on you to do what you said you would do with respect to a debate, how can we trust your word on anything else you promise?”
In a statement, Walker said he was “glad” Warnock accepted the Nexstar invitation. It remains unclear if the Republican will agree to a second debate.
Last month, Walker publicly declined to participate in the Macon debate hosted by the Mercer University Center for Collaborative Journalism, The Macon Telegraph, 13WMAZ and Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Atlanta Press Club spokesperson Lauri Strauss told the L-E that Walker “has not officially accepted nor declined participation” in their Atlanta debate.
“We are planning to move forward with the debate on Oct. 13,” said Debbie Blankenship, director of Mercer University’s Center for Collaborative Journalism. “We have continued to reach out to the Walker campaign but have not yet received a response.”
Warnock and Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Chase Oliver will appear at the Macon and Atlanta debates.
Candidates must meet certain criteria to appear in the Nexstar debate, which includes polling at 10% or above before the election. Oliver could be left out of that debate.
“Georgians deserve to have multiple opportunities who want to represent them,” Warnock said.
“The question of this election is who is really ready to represent the people of Georgia at this critical moment? It’s basic to our democracy that the people would hear debates, and I hope that my opponent will not deprive the people of Georgia of an opportunity — in multiple locations — to hear why he thinks he’s ready.”