MADISON— Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Ron Johnson, who has already dodged a dozen debate opportunities in the primary campaign, appears on pace to dodge yet another — a debate Sunday in Eau Claire.
“Ron Johnson has been running scared, dodging debates in the primary and hiding from reporters because he’s an extremist who will put Republican Party politics ahead of Wisconsin,” said Mike Tate, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Ron Johnson owes it to the people of Wisconsin to stop hiding behind his $4 million ad campaign and have a debate on the issues that matter to the voters.”
Dave Westlake, Ron Johnson’s former opponent, told WISN’s Mike Gousha Sunday that he was disappointed Johnson turned down multiple invitations to debate:
“We’ve had twelve opportunities to debate Ron Johnson and he has turned down every single one of them. And that, I think is just unfair to the people of this state. The people of Wisconsin deserve to be able to hear both the candidates side by side…”
Johnson of course, is hiding over statements he made suggesting that he was willing to horse-trade the home mortgage deduction thousands of middle class families rely on, statements suggesting “sunspots” were to blame for global climate change and statements suggesting that Communist China is better for business than the U.S. — all statements his political handlers have tried to take back.
The first debate is scheduled to take place Sunday, and is sponsored by UW-Eau Claire and the Western Wisconsin Press Club.
