Republican U.S. Senate candidate Christopher Shays has agreed to participate in at least four debates but his GOP rival, Linda McMahon, has only agreed to two.
McMahon and Shays will face one another at a debate hosted by the Courant and Fox CT at the University of Connecticut on Thursday in their first one-on-one forum since the state party convention last month. They have also agreed to participate in a July 18 debate at the West Hartford studio of NBC Connecticut.
But McMahon has declined invitations for two other debates — one proposed by the League of Women Voters, Hearst Newspapers and News 12 and the other proposed by The Day of New London and WTNH.
“In addition to tomorrow’s debate, we are doing the NBC debate next month,” McMahon spokeswoman Erin Isaac said via email. “We are focused on our real opponent – [Democratic] Congressman Chris Murphy.”
Amanda Bergen, spokeswoman for the Shays campaign, said McMahon’s position on debates is not new.
“Just like last election she’s hiding behind her TV commercials, holding staged events and not being held accountable. She thinks she can buy an election,” Bergen said in an email.
“Her arrogance is disrespectful of the election process, and ultimately, the voters.”
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5 Responses to Linda McMahon and Christopher Shays Clash Over Debates
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She has no hope of measuring up when time to discuss substantive issues.
New headline– Shays a sore loser! Linda McMahon doesn’t have to waste her time debating the issues with Chris Shays FOUR TIMES when she’s 30 points ahead in the polls. So, now she’s “arrogant and disrespectful”. The only arrogance I see is Shays’ sense of entitlement (Rob Simmons all over again). Linda McMahon’s focus is where it should be–Chris Murphy.
Two debates or four, makes no difference. The same issues will debated that have been before Connecticut Republicans since Linda ran against Blumenthal. Linda has only one endearing quality – she is not a Big Government tax and spend career politician. All the others in the race are. Shea proved his liberal credentials with too many terms in the House of Representatives, and is a RINO. Shades of Lowell W. Better the devil we do not know than those who have proven their inadequacies.
At least she is a republican. Sheys is what we would call a giant RINO and shame on the State GOP for pulling stunts again.
Shays should just hang it up and do the right thing for the benefit of the party. Let Murphy and Suzy B kill each other and let the best candidate go to the U.S. Senate (Linda McMahon). She is not a career politician and deserves a chance. With the prior (abysmal) records of the others in full display, she gets my vote!