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Pritzker says he will “definitely” debate Bailey, criticizes opponent for dodging news media

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Illinois

* From yesterday’s Pritzker press conference…

Q: Do you plan on debating your opponent? Where do you stand?

A: We’re definitely going to debate. And, you know, we’ll be making decisions about that sometime over the next several weeks. And by the way, welcome to Springfield. Glad to have you at the state fair.

Q: It is the tradition that the incumbent usually gets to pick. I mean, that’s how it goes, whether that’s fair. The challenger always wants more. Do you see yourself doing 2, 3, 4?

A: I don’t know. Decisions haven’t been made yet about that. But we surely will debate. There’s no doubt about that. I’m looking forward to that. I am I look forward to debating.

Q: Why do you think that’s important?

A: Why is it important to debate? Well, I mean, there are clear differences between Darren Bailey and me. I’m standing up for working families, making sure that we’re protecting women’s rights, reproductive rights, fighting to make sure that we have gun safety, but also that we’re actually supporting our police and public safety. And that’s something that I’ve done throughout my term in office. Darren Bailey has not, so there’s a lot that we’re going to be debating about, no doubt about it. And I look forward to demonstrating that when we’re together. But I will point out, I stand up in front of the press, I don’t know, virtually every day, certainly on average, once a day, answer any questions that come. I don’t tell you, I’m not going to answer questions. And the fact is that Darren Bailey doesn’t want to answer questions from members of the media, walks away, tells you that he’s not going to answer questions. It seems to me that he ought to answer the questions that you put forward. And certainly a debate will be one opportunity. But I think it ought to be every day on the campaign trail. If you’re out there, and you’re open to having people attend your events. You ought to be open to having the press ask you questions.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 10:12 am

Comments

= If you’re out there, and you’re open to having people attend your events. You ought to be open to having the press ask you questions. =

No matter your opinion of Governor Pritzker, this statement is absolutely correct.

Comment by cover Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 10:32 am
I don’t believe a debate will ever occur. We’ve been seeing this play out in other races across the country where GOP contenders find every reason not to do the debates, and then blame the dem for it.

Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 10:36 am
Politically speaking, there’s very little upside for Pritzker to debate Bailey, and yes debates no longer seem necessary as a matter of media shaming.

But I believe Pritzker will do at least one nonetheless. These particular kinds of norms, the GOP seems more prone to break these days, because their voters -really- don’t care about mainstream media shaming.

The question is whether Pritzker tries to schedule it / them at times with minimal viewership.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 10:44 am
= I don’t believe a debate will ever occur. We’ve been seeing this play out in other races across the country where GOP contenders find every reason not to do the debates, and then blame the dem for it. =

And/or they blame “leftists” like the League of Women Voters for organizing the debates

Comment by cover Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 10:56 am
It’s a weird dynamic because Pritzker is the frontrunner and better funded, so Bailey should be taking every opportunity to get his message out through the media. Generally, media bias is towards drama and competitive races, so they’ll print what he says no matter what the polls say. He should just take the free exposure.

Comment by vern Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 10:56 am
There’s no benefit (only risks) in answering questions from a press pool these days. If you have a message to get out get it out directly on your terms and the media will disseminate anyway. The people saying “he doesn’t debate, he doesn’t answer questions” you aren’t the intended audience. So what’s the point?

Comment by 1st Ward Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:09 am
In Bailey’s eyes the press is socialist and out to destroy our society. He doesn’t have to answer to them. He has bought into the conspiracy theories that drive him and his followers.

Comment by Highland IL Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:13 am
Bailey will agree to debate only if the moderator is truly nonpartisan and committed to fairness. In a gesture of cooperation across the aisle, he will let Pritzker pick the moderator: either Dan Proft or Amy Jacobson.

Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:23 am
What are the odds that Pritzker agrees to a debate on a specific date and time hosted by a legitimate organization, only to have Bailey say he has a prior commitment to a different “candidate forum” hosted by Dan Proft or one of the Timpone outfits, and that it’s Pritzker ducking out to avoid having to answer hard questions from “real Illinoisans?”

Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:24 am
===Politically speaking, there’s very little upside for Pritzker to debate Bailey, and yes debates no longer seem necessary as a matter of media shaming.===

There’s a huge upside. Huge.

Unlike Bailey, Pritzker has a whole room of multiple folks dedicated to immediate response to fully bury Bailey at every sentence, word, or syllable.

Bailey is ducking every question he could. Getting Bailey on a stage to say he feels a child who is a victim of rape and/or incest must carry a pregnancy to term, or that Bailey supports Trump and that it’s fresh, maybe with a ridiculous mumble-bumble response… there’s huge upside.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:29 am
=== If you’re out there, and you’re open to having people attend your events. You ought to be open to having the press ask you questions. =

No matter your opinion of Governor Pritzker, this statement is absolutely correct.=

Ditto.

I pray for a series of debates. Popcorn is on me folks.

In reality, JB debating bailey is almost cruel. It is certainly a trap for the hapless bailey. Even on a controlled facebook live he cannot help but sound like a buffoon and insert his foot into his mouth.

I predict that every debate lowers bailey’s poll number by 5%.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:32 am
Looking at the polls, one would think Bailey would want to be debating Pritzker every day until Election Day.

What is he, some chicken farmer?

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:34 am
=== There’s no benefit (only risks) in answering questions from a press pool these days. ===

Pritzker does it daily and doesn’t seem to have run afoul of those risks. As for the “intended audience,” that brings me back to the other comment thread today. Who is Bailey’s intended audience, and what does he want them to hear? I honestly have no clue.

Comment by vern Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:35 am
Example?

“Picture this”… a stage, two podiums, a question…

“Senator Bailey, a Florida appeals court affirmed Monday a lower judge’s ruling that a 16-year-old minor in the state cannot get an abortion, based on a law requiring parental consent for minors, forcing the teenager to carry her pregnancy to term. You voted against a bill ending parental notification. Do you think the 16 year old should be forced to carry the pregnancy to term?”

There’s NO downside for a debate for Pritzker. None.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:42 am
= there’s very little upside for Pritzker to debate Bailey=

I also think there’s huge upside for the DPI. You think a Pritzker Bailey debate helps the chances of Brady and Demmer who will be asked if they agree and/or support Bailey given what he’s likely to say at such a debate?

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 11:47 am
In a few short years, Candidate Bailey was elected to the House. Then in 2020 Bailey was elected to the State Senate. Moving on to 2022, Bailey became the GOP candidate for governor. Quite a hop, skip, and jump for this GOP candidate.

In running against JB Pritzker, Candidate Bailey is definitely over his skis.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 12:52 pm
=In running against JB Pritzker, Candidate Bailey is definitely over his skis.=

Bailey hit the bullseye in running his primary campaign. He ran a campaign that appealed to a large majority of GOP voters, maybe with a little help. But he has no clue or interest in how to translate that into a general election victory.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 1:31 pm
I don’t know, JB. Be careful. Darren was in FFA at NCHS and I think he did those debates that they do. You might just be dealing with a regular Daniel Webster here. If you’re up to it maybe you could retrace the Lincoln and Douglas route.

Comment by MoralMinority Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 2:49 pm
=What is he, some chicken farmer?=

more like chicken hawk

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 3:05 pm
I sincerely hope one of those debates will occur in southern Illinois, south of I-70.

Comment by Fivegreenleaves Wednesday, Aug 17, 22 @ 3:54 pm