Monday morning on Jan. 27 has suddenly become an important date in Georgia politics.
The Georgia Municipal Association is putting together a pair of U.S. Senate debates for that morning, one Republican and one Democrat. The organization has even offered up a tempting audience: 800 municipal leaders from across the state, who will be in Atlanta for “Mayor’s Day” at the state Capitol.
Two candidates have so far shied away from the Atlanta Hilton event: Michelle Nunn on the Democratic side, and Phil Gingrey among the Republicans.
Let’s talk Democrats first. To weed out lesser candidates, the GMA has set a $100,000 fundraising marker as a condition for participating – which rules out former state Sen. Steen Miles of DeKalb County.
Nunn has yet to appear on a stage with any other primary candidate.
My colleague Greg Bluestein asked Nunn about the debate at an event in Athens, and she quickly ruled it out.
"I think right now I'll focus on what you're seeing me do today - mobilizing supporters and engaging voters. There will be plenty of time to debate when we get to the spring."
Which leaves Branko “Dr. Rad” Radulovacki, the Vinings psychiatrist, as the sole participant. Said Dr. Rad just a few minutes ago:
“From the beginning, I’ve said the U.S. Senate race should not be an anointing. For that reason, I do my best say yes to every invitation to meet with voters, hear their concerns and tell them my positions. And, of course, I participate in every candidate forum or debate. I think Nunn is avoiding forums and direct questions because she doesn’t want to be pinned down on the specifics of her views. She afraid to stand for something because she risks alienating people. But that risk-averse approach does a disservice to voters.”
We asked Nunn about the debate at an event in Athens, and she quickly ruled it out:
"I think right now I'll focus on what you're seeing me do today -- mobilizing supporters and engaging voters. There will be plenty of time to debate when we get to the spring."
A GMA official said the group would be renewing its invitation to Nunn.
Now, as to the GOP side: Paul Broun, Karen Handel, Jack Kingston, David Perdue and Eugene Yu have all accepted their invitations. Gingrey is the only holdout.
The Marietta congressman has also waved off a Saturday appearance in Adel, site of the first of a series of GOP debates. The question is whether two deferrals represent a pattern.
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