Debate dodgers: Top Mississippi candidates avoid debates. Why?

The Republican front-runner in the governor's race, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, ducked the first two debates of this campaign season.

And Treasurer Lynn Fitch, perhaps the best-known name in the attorney general race, also skipped the first two debates of that contest last week.

The no-shows have frustrated Fitch's and Reeves' opponents, and led to questions of why they couldn't attend not once, but twice.

Representatives for Reeves and Fitch insist it's about scheduling conflicts. The three Republican gubernatorial candidates, including Reeves, did recently agree to a single televised debate before the August primary, hosted by WJTV-TV next month. 

And Fitch and Reeves have attended many candidate forums, their spokespeople point out. But some argue forums — where candidates often make a general pitch about their candidacy — are vastly different than debates, where they are asked pointed questions by a moderator and each other.

"It benefits everyone for the candidates to be asked tough questions about the office, and to give direct answers with specific plans, for their tenure in office," said Shannon Warnock, campaign manager for Republican AG candidate Andy Taggart, who has sharply criticized Fitch for her debate absences. 

Why skip a debate? It's not always about schedule 

One of Reeves' Republican opponents, state Rep. Robert Foster, called him out for missing the first debate at Mississippi State University in April, saying Reeves was "back home on the porch." Reeves initially said he wouldn't make it because of the legislative session, though the session ultimately ended early.

Before the debate, Foster alleged Reeves' absence caused MSU to spike an effort by WJTV to have the debate televised, because the school wanted to "protect" Reeves by refusing to allow his opponents free statewide exposure. The university denied the allegations.

It's true that factors beyond simple scheduling conflicts often play a part when candidates — especially front-runners — opt to skip debates, political experts say. The leaders of a race must calculate if showing up could inadvertently injure their chances and boost their competitors in the polls. 

"You give (your opponents) a stage and a microphone, and if you are the leader, then you naturally draw a crowd to that stage," said Marty Wiseman, a former MSU political science professor and longtime state politics observer. "If you are certain of the gap you've got over the guy in second place, then there's a case to be made for not creating that environment that gives them free publicity."

Nathan Shrader, associate professor of political science at Millsaps College, said it's logical leading candidates such as Reeves and Fitch would want to avoid an "accidental fumble" in a debate setting that boosts their opponents' chances. 

"I'm not wild about that approach," Shrader said of skipping debates, "but I understand the strategy." 

Plenty of local forums, few debates

The Reeves and Fitch campaigns both say there have plenty of chances to see the candidates side-by-side at forums, where they make a short speech and sometimes answer a question or two from the crowd. 

"In addition to the televised debate, we're committed to several more forums and joint appearances with the other candidates — including one that just took place this morning," Reeves spokesman Parker Briden said this week. 

"There's no shortage of hearing these guys speak," said Michelle Williams, with the Fitch campaign.

Fitch is not the only AG candidate to pass on a debate. Democrat Jennifer Riley-Collins also did not attend one at William Carey University last week. She said she was out of the state, and would be willing to attend one with the Republican nominee after the primary. 

Taggart singled out Fitch for missing the two debates, and suggested attending them was about more than making a public appearance.

"I know those who attended the debate had to be asking themselves why Ms. Fitch continues to dodge head to head debates," Taggart said in a statement. "If she is not willing to debate her two opponents, how is she going to argue for Mississippians in the courts on issues like our recent heartbeat law to protect the unborn?”

In a prior letter to Fitch, Taggart wrote: "As candidates for Attorney General, I believe we have a particular responsibility to allow the voters of our state to compare our skills and experience as advocates — and our positions as public servants — in person and head to head." 

Other candidates want to debate, too

Republican secretary of state candidate Michael Watson is also calling on his Republican opponent to a debate. The state senator sent a letter to Sam Britton saying he was "disappointed" Britton passed on a Republican debate in southwest Mississippi on Friday.

"I believe there is enormous value in enabling voters to compare our respective qualifications and our positions on the issues through direct, in-person debates," Watson wrote. 

Meanwhile, at least two Democrats in the governor's race, Robert Shuler Smith and Velesha Williams, also have called for a Democratic candidates debate before the August 6 primary. It appears unlikely one will be organized.

A spokesman for the front-runner in that contest, Attorney General Jim Hood, has said Hood would "consider" attending a debate if one was held. 

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Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-961-7050 or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter.