On Wednesday, August 19th, Senator Mitch McConnell’s campaign posted a letter to Amy McGrath, challenging her to a “socially distanced, Lincoln-Douglas style debate” with no notes. Here’s the letter:
Ms. McGrath,
Congratulations on your hard-fought primary victory, and welcome to the campaign trail for what is already a spirited race for the U.S. Senate.
As you know from your previous bid for Congress, a critical aspect of any campaign includes robust debate – on the airwaves, during campaign rallies, and between the candidates themselves. While the coronavirus pandemic has changed how we campaign in 2020, it is my view that any plans to hold in-person debates between the two of us should not be impacted. Before casting their ballots this November, Kentuckians deserve the opportunity to compare us side-by-side as we share our competing visions for Kentucky’s long-term prosperity.
I am challenging you to a socially distanced, Lincoln-Douglas style debate with a time-keeping moderator agreed upon by each of us. This would be a debate just between the two of us. No notes at the table, no props, and no audience. Kentuckians deserve clear answers from each of us on the issues that matter most, and this is the best format to deliver those answers. Team Mitch is eager to work with a Kentucky TV station with statewide reach to put together such a debate. I look forward to your prompt reply and seeing you on the debate stage soon.
Respectfully,
Mitch McConnell
The McGrath campaign responded with a letter of their own, asking for three debates instead of just one, and including a little closing snark:
Sen. McConnell,
Kentucky faces many challenges right now as we try to dig out from the worst economic and health crisis in a century. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has not received nearly enough support to control this pandemic, keep our families afloat, or even vote safely.
I welcome debating you face-to-face to ensure Kentuckians can hear real solutions for the crisis ahead. In the spirit of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, I am calling for three debates to be held in different regions so voters across the commonwealth have the opportunity to hear from the candidates. The debates should focus on issues that are most important to Kentuckians during this national emergency.
One debate must address the health care crisis in Kentucky that has been so dramatically exacerbated by Washington’s unwillingness to control this pandemic. And as more than 1 million Kentuckians have filed for unemployment during this crisis, one debate must also address pulling our country out of this economic catastrophe.
For the sake of our democracy, I also invite the libertarian candidate Brad Barron to join us in the debates so Kentuckians can hear from all of the candidates on the ballot.
I look forward to a robust discussion about how we can improve life for working people in Kentucky.
Respectfully,
LtCol Amy McGrath, USMC (Ret.)
P.S. Thank you for finally writing back after 32 years. You may have heard we got the law changed so women could fly in combat, and I made it into the cockpit of a fighter jet. I hear they are even letting women serve in the Senate these days.
At this point, no debates have been formally scheduled, as the campaigns are working with various media outlets to determine when and how to hold the debates. But at least it appears we will have at least one debate, and perhaps two or three. When we learn more about the scheduled debates, we will publicize that information.
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