PA Gov: Wolf Rules Out Additional Debates

“What is one, Alex?”

Earlier this week, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and GOP challenger Scott Wagner confirmed they would debate each other Oct. 1 in Hershey, PA moderated by ‘Jeopardy!’ host, Alex Trebek. Wolf’s campaign confirmed this week that the 45 minute face-to-face will be the only debate before November’s election.

Yesterday, Philadelphia Inquirer’s John Baer wrote a column updating the recent happenings in the race for Governor. Towards the end of the article he writes, “The other development this week is Wagner and Wolf agreeing to debate Oct. 1. The Wolf campaign tells me this will be the only debate.”

The Wagner campaign pounced, with a press release Wednesday blasting Wolf.

“Wolf Breaks Decades Of Tradition: Only Participating In One Debate,” was the headline of the press release that included the following statement from Wagner.

“What is Tom Wolf afraid of?” asked Scott Wagner in the release. “After claiming the standard for debates should be twelve, he is now only accepting one. But it should come as no surprise that Governor Wolf is afraid to get up and explain his positions to the the voters given that his education plan relies on billions in crippling tax increases for hardworking Pennsylvanians.”

“Yes, the Chamber Debate is the only debate,” Wolf spokeswoman Beth Melena confirmed. She deflected the attack with a release that mimicked Wagner’s, headlined: “Wagner Breaks Decades Of Tradition: Refuses to Release His Tax Returns.”

Wolf’s campaign didn’t expound on its rationale for the single debate.

Wolf faced Gov. Tom Corbett three times in 2014. Corbett and Democrat Dan Onorato debated three times in 2010. Gov. Ed Rendell faced off with GOP challenger Lynn Swann three times in 2006.

Wagner originally challenged Wolf to 67 debates, one in each PA county.

14 Responses

  1. How the did Alex Trebek come to be the moderator??? How about a serious, respected, politically central or independent journalist

  2. “Wolf’s campaign didn’t expound on its rationale for the single debate.”

    Um…allow me to expound…. Wolf has a double-digit lead and doesn’t want to take any chances of a debate flub/meme.

  3. Question for Governor Wolf and Senator Wagner
    Philadelphia Inquirer Published a 1/2 (half) page article in Business Section on Aug 5, 2018 – ” No-bids growing for IT” in PA. This has mostly occurred under that watch of Governor Wolf. Would the bids if influenced be scrapped and re-bid.

  4. He should offer two more debates in exchange for Wagner’s respecting tradition and norms and releasing his tax returns. It’s the art of the deal!

    1. You keep asking this question like it’s some sort of killer rhetorical device. His schedule is public. Google is really not that hard to use.

  5. Can’t help but think of all the brave men who stormed the beaches, running into gunfire on D-Day. Meanwhile, this Gov lacks the guts to debate. What’s gonna happen? He gonna get a paper cut from his index cards? Yellow belly.

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