In June, Democratic candidate for Georgia Governor Keisha Lance Bottoms challenged Republican opponent Rick Jackson to a town hall-style debate. On July 10, Jackson accepted the offer, specifically Gray TV’s statewide debate where Georgia voters would have the opportunity to ask the candidates questions directly.
Over 40 days later, Bottoms still has not publicly accepted this debate, even though she demanded it.
What is keeping Keisha Lance Bottoms from accepting? While Bottoms has yet to commit to the town hall debate, she’s been spotted more often on Martha’s Vineyard than on the campaign trail in Georgia.
Since she was first publicly spotted in Martha’s Vineyard on August 9, Bottoms has made just one publicly documented appearance in Georgia and returned to Martha’s Vineyard for more events over the weekend. She has not made a campaign stop in Georgia all week.
What key figures had to say:
- Garrison Douglas, Rick Jackson campaign spokesperson: “Keisha Lance Bottoms has called getting from Atlanta to Martha’s Vineyard ‘a commitment.’ And this month, she has made that commitment again and again. What she still has not done is commit to stand in front of Georgia voters and answer their questions. Rick accepted the exact town hall format Bottoms demanded more than 40 days ago. If Bottoms has time for multiple public appearances on Martha’s Vineyard, she has time for one town hall with the people she wants to govern.”
- The Jackson Campaign via their Official X: “[Rick Jackson] accepted the exact town hall format Keisha demanded more than 40 days ago. If she’s got time to schmooze on Martha’s Vineyard, she’s got time for a town hall with the people she wants to govern.”
Further Context: Regardless of whether Bottoms accepts the debate offer, Rick Jackson is moving forward with his campaign activity.
Just today, his team announced an event taking place this weekend in Buford and a new partnership with Governor Brian Kemp (R-GA) and First Lady Marty Kemp.
This event will focus on why “character” matters and will likely feature a discussion of the differences in reputation between Jackson and Bottoms.
