Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he's willing to participate in three debates with Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes
WAUKESHA - Well, it looks like we're about to have a debate on debates in the race for U.S. Senate.
With the race a toss-up, Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said Friday that he's willing to participate in up to three debates with his opponent, Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
And the Johnson campaign said he has accepted three debate invitations including Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) and WISN-TV (Channel 12).
The Barnes campaign quickly countered saying it had accepted an invitation for a debate to be hosted by WTMJ-TV on Oct.13.
So, that means there's at least one debate the two sides have agreed to.
And the Barnes campaign challenged Johnson to join a forum hosted by the Wisconsin Farmers Union and Main Street Alliance in Oshkosh.
"Listen, I'm willing to tell Wisconsinites what I believe, you know that," Johnson said after attending a panel discussion on school choice in Waukesha. "There's one person hiding who doesn't want Wisconsin to know what he truly believes. And that's Mandela Barnes. I'm happy to be transparent and honest."
Three main broadcast outlets or groups are trying to arrange debates. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has scheduled its event to air Oct. 7.
WTMJ-TV and WISN-TV have also been negotiating with the two campaigns.
"Depending on what we can agree on, I'd do three," Johnson said. "I'd do three. I'll do two. I'll do one. I can't force the other guy out of hiding."
WTMJ-TV used two moderators to host debates ahead of the August primaries, while WISN-TV had a town hall-style event.
Barnes campaign manager Kory Kozloski said that Barnes "looks forward to holding" Johnson "accountable for his record of putting himself and his wealthy donors first on the debate stage in Milwaukee, and then in his own backyard in Oshkosh.”
During his two previous campaigns, Johnson debated Democrat Russ Feingold. Johnson recalled that he and Feingold debated three times during the 2010 campaign and twice during the 2016 campaign.
The latest Marquette University Law School Poll showed Johnson and Barnes in what amounts to a toss-up contest, with Johnson at 49% among likely voters and Barnes at 48%. The poll showed that Johnson erased a 7-point deficit in a month as Barnes was subjected to a barrage of negative advertising by Republicans.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Johnson says he'd debate Barnes three times in Wisconsin Senate race