Democratic Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff on Monday asked that his opponent, Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), participate in three televised debates before their runoff election on January 5.
In a letter sent to Perdue on Monday requesting the televised debates, Ossoff argued that “Georgians deserve nothing less” and that he hopes his GOP rival will agree to give Georgians the debates they deserve.
Ossoff’s request for Perdue to participate in debates ahead of their runoff election comes weeks after the incumbent Georgia senator bowed out of what was supposed to be their final debate before the election. Perdue decided to join President Trump at his Georgia rally on the night it was originally scheduled instead.
Perdue’s decision to call off their debate happened a day after Ossoff roasted Perdue in a scathing takedown during their debate last month that went viral. Ossoff called Perdue a “crook” and roasted him over the legal trouble he’s had with his business and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an interview Monday morning on MSNBC, Ossoff took aim at Perdue for backing out of their final general election debate to attend a Trump rally, saying the senator was “incapable of defending himself” because he has “no record to run on.”
Ossoff said that in previous debates, he asked Perdue tough questions about his record on health care, his self-dealing stock trades and “why he had lied to the people of this state about the severity of this pandemic.”
“He had no answers and he decided he was going to bow out and refused to debate with just hours until voting started rather than face me in an open forum,” Ossoff said.
Ossoff then argued that upcoming debates would be beneficial not only for himself, but would also give Perdue the opportunity to explain why he deserves to be re-elected, especially now that he faces a runoff election that could determine the balance of the Senate.
“A majority of Georgians rejected your request in this recent general election. We’re in a runoff,” Ossoff said. “Come out from your hiding place, let’s meet in a public forum. Discuss your record and discuss your vision. Make the case for your reelection, and I’ll make the case why you need to be defeated.”
TPM has reached out to Perdue’s office for comment.
Watch Ossoff’s remarks below:
GA Democratic Senate Candidate Jon Ossoff challenges Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) to three debates ahead of January runoff pic.twitter.com/6Miife7bAu
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) November 9, 2020
