Davis challenges Abbott to six debates

[TexasTowelie]

AUSTIN – Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis on Tuesday proposed a series of six debates with Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott in their race for governor.

Her proposal came after Abbott earlier said he had accepted two invitations for debates in McAllen in September and in Dallas in October.

Davis envisions a series of debates from July through October in the Rio Grande Valley, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston and Lubbock.

In a letter to Abbott dated Tuesday, she said she would like at least two of them to be issue-specific debates focused on education and economic opportunity.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Davis-challenges-Abbott-to-six-debates-5492113.php .

[mbperrin]

1. Good. The more head to head,

the more likely Davis is to win.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Abbott is a chicken and will only debate twice:

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/wendy-davis-wants-six-debates-but-greg-abbott-says/nf4QS/

But, in a letter of response Tuesday, Republican Greg Abbott’s campaign manager, wrote, “Abbott has already committed to two statewide televised debates, and therefore we must respectfully decline your proposal.”

“As you know, two invitations for statewide debates were established weeks ago, and our campaign will not waiver on those commitments,” Hamilton continued. “The first debate would take place Sept. 19 in the Rio Grande Valley and hosted by the McAllen Monitor, KGBT-TV Action 4 News and KLTM Telemundo 40. The second debate would take place Oct. 3 in Dallas and hosted by WFAA-TV, and broadcast by all Gannett stations in Texas with an online stream available.”

While Davis expressed her interest in participating in a debate sponsored by the McAllen Monitor newspaper, her campaign said she “strongly prefers,” that the debate in the Rio Grande Valley be the first debate and occur in July. It is unclear whether the difference in dates would be a deal-breaker for either candidate.