One of two challengers to Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson seemed again Friday to question whether the incumbent should be running for a third term, after he announced last year he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's.
The issue arose as Libertarian Allen Buckley addressed the idea of term limits during a taping of the only televised debate of the general election cycle.
After Democrat Jim Barksdale first endorsed the idea, Isakson said the ultimate term limits were in the hands of voters — who could send any incumbent home on Election Day. Buckley followed by saying both U.S. House and Senate members should be limited to 12 years each but then went on to say that whether or not term limits ever became law, he wasn’t sure Isakson would be running for reelection anyway.
It was an awkward segueway, and Isakson jumped on it. “I think that’s a veiled reference” to Parkinson’s, Isakson said, launching into talking points he has repeated often on the campaign trail about his pride in being open about his diagnosis and the encouragement he has received from his constituents.
“I wish you well on your health; it wasn’t meant that way,” Buckley responded, before adding, “no offense, I’m younger than you.”
“I’m not going to hold your youth and inexperience against you,” Isakson retorted, before Barksdale chimed in to say he wasn’t going to question why Isakson was running but said if reelected, Isakson should commit to serving the term’s full six years.
The exchange had added significance after Buckley complained earlier this week about the format of the debate, which initially included plans for the candidates to be seated. Buckley said the seated arrangement was designed to benefit Isakson, and all candidates stood at podiums during taping. Both Barksdale’s and Buckley’s camps had said they would not broach the issue otherwise.
It was one of several testy exchanges between the candidates during the hour-long debate, which saw Isakson repeatedly challenged by Buckley on his conservative credentials and poked by Barksdale for being out of touch. During taping, Isakson repeated plans to vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump "because I support the ticket," but again disavowed comments caught on tape of Trump boasting about forcibly groping and kissing women.
Isakson, whose 12-year-old granddaughter was in the audience, said candidates should be role models for kids and that he would never condone that type of behavior.
A new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll released Friday shows Isakson maintaining a commanding lead in the race but in danger of a runoff. Isakson garnered 47 percent of support from likely Georgia voters in the poll, 15 points ahead of Barksdale but not enough to meet's Georgia's required 50 percent minimum to win outright.
Buckley came in with 11 percent support. Seven percent of likely voters said they had no opinion about the race.
The debate, sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club, will air at 6 p.m. Sunday on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
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