FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 27, 2022 

Contact: [email protected]

What Georgians Are Seeing: Walker Continues to Dodge Debates

Savannah’s WJCL: “[Walker] did not commit to a debate or a date with Senator Warnock, who has agreed to three debates.”

AJC: “Walker, however, still hasn’t confirmed any dates, and some GOP political observers don’t think he will. Instead, he has made a sport of moving the goalposts for the events, drawing attention away from other issues that have dogged his Senate bid.”

Atlanta, GA – Herschel Walker continues to refuse to commit to debates, even though “long before he won the nomination, Walker repeatedly vowed he would debate Warnock.”  

Yesterday, the Warnock campaign announced a new ad highlighting Walker’s refusal to commit to debates.

Here’s more on what Georgians are seeing and hearing:

WJCL’s Shannon Royster: “Warnock has agreed to debate Walker at three locations”

Greg Coy: In commitment 2022 a brand new political ad by Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. 

Shannon Royster: Its purpose is to call out candidate Herschel Walker, telling voters Walker has no plans to challenge him in a debate. The ad will start running today, and there are quotes in the ad like “stop dodging” and “commit to debates.” Warnock has agreed to debate with Walker at three locations: that’s one here in Savannah, one in Macon, and another in Atlanta.

WJCL’s Greg Coy: “Walker says that he will agree to a debate when it’s fair to him”

Greg Coy: Walker says that he will agree to a debate when it’s fair to him he says, and also, the voters…he did not commit to a debate or a date with Senator Warnock, who has agreed to three debates.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Warnock to Walker: ‘Stop dodging. Commit to debates.’

• If Herschel Walker ultimately ends up refusing to debate, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock wants Georgians to know it’s his Republican challenger’s fault.

• That’s the point of the latest TV ad from the Democrat’s campaign, which focuses on a central message: “Stop dodging. Commit to debates.” The 30-second spot, which begins airing on TV stations Tuesday, underscores that argument with its title: “Scared.”

• So what’s with this debate over debates? Walker skipped showdowns with fellow Republicans ahead of the May primary, confident that he would coast to victory. But long before he won the nomination, Walker repeatedly vowed he would debate Warnock.

• When pressed by reporters, the former football star said time and again he was primed for a showdown against Warnock “any day of the week.” In June, he said “name the place and the time and we can get it on.”

• The time and place have been named, according to the Democrat’s camp. Warnock weeks ago accepted debate invitations from WTOC in Savannah, Mercer University in Macon and the Atlanta Press Club.

• Walker, however, still hasn’t confirmed any dates, and some GOP political observers don’t think he will. Instead, he has made a sport of moving the goalposts for the events, drawing attention away from other issues that have dogged his Senate bid.

• “I don’t know if Herschel Walker is scared for voters to hear what has to say, or scared for voters to hear that he’s unprepared to speak on the issues that matter most to the people of Georgia,” said Quentin Fulks, Warnock’s campaign manager.

• “There’s a clear choice in the race for Senate and we hope Herschel Walker will be true to his word and commit to joining us at three debates.”

Reminder: Reverend Warnock has already scheduled three debates: 

• Reverend Warnock has accepted the invitation of the Atlanta Press Club to debate on Sunday, October 16, 2022. The Atlanta Press Club regularly hosts debates in Georgia. The debate will be broadcast statewide and available for streaming.

• Reverend Warnock has accepted the invitation of his hometown station WTOC Savannah. The debate will be broadcast statewide and available for streaming. The date for this debate is to be determined.

• Reverend Warnock has also accepted the invitation of the Mercer University Center for Collaborative Journalism and the newsrooms of 13WMAZ, 11Alive WXIA, Georgia Public Broadcasting, The Macon Telegraph, WMUB and The Macon Newsroom to debate on the campus of Mercer University in Macon. The debate will be broadcast statewide and available for streaming. The date for this debate is to be determined.

###

Title and affiliation are provided for identification purposes only.