No Debate Between Josh Stein and Mark Robinson

 

Bryan Anderson is reporting this morning that Josh Stein turned Mark Robinson down flat for a debate, once Robinson had a (panicked) change of heart and more or less demanded that Stein debate him, probably because Robinson is trailing Stein about 10 points in the polls. A debate would give Robinson much greater exposure than his usual hang-outs in churches and good-ole-boy eatin joints.

“I’m challenging you to a debate right now, Josh Stein,” Robinson said in a video posted on X. “Come on down. Let’s do this mano a mano and let’s get it done.”

Hours later, Stein’s campaign announced there’d be no debate with Robinson.

“A debate would only serve to legitimize him and provide a platform for his vile and dangerous rhetoric, and we won’t be part of that,” said Kate Frauenfelder, a Stein spokeswoman.

Stein’s apparent change of heart might reflect a growing body of polls showing him leading Robinson by about 10 percentage points.

Gary Pearce, a retired Democratic political operative, said he’d advise Stein not to debate Robinson.

“I don’t think [debates] matter much, don’t think that many people watch, don’t think undecided voters are watching it, and I don’t think you ought to give a platform to people who lie and spew hate and bigotry,” Pearce said.

Thomas Mills had also posted just this morning that Stein need not throw Robinson a "lifeline" by debating him.