Mitch McConnell Turns Yellow and Refuses To Debate Alison Lundergan Grimes

After appearing to agree to a debate with his Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes in late October, Sen. Mitch McConnell abruptly flip-flopped and refused to debate the fiery Democrat.

According to WHAS11, McConnell turned down the debate because he would be on a bus tour of KENTUCKY during the potential dates,

The chances for more than one U.S. Senate debate in Kentucky narrowed Tuesday afternoon when the campaign of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) declined specific dates agreed to less than two hours earlier by Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

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“Senator McConnell will be in the middle of a bus tour during the dates suggested,” said McConnell campaign spokeswoman Allison Moore. “Ultimately, much like other debate negotiations, neither the timing nor the format could be agreed to by both campaigns.”

We all know how difficult it can be to turn the bus around, and drive to another location. McConnell has come up with what is easily the worst excuse ever for ducking a debate.

McConnell’s biggest issue with the format seemed to be that Grimes was going to be there, and he was going to have to answer questions. Mitch McConnell objected to a live audience being present, and the moderator being allowed to ask questions. Sen. McConnell’s excuses are getting more flimsy with each passing day. There is only one current debate scheduled on October 13.

The only conclusion that can be drawn from McConnell’s behavior is that he is afraid to debate Alison Lundergan Grimes. Mitch McConnell is trying to hide and ride out the storm. His strategy is to win reelection with an onslaught of negative ads against Grimes. McConnell doesn’t believe that voters in all parts of Kentucky deserve to see the candidates live together.

The Grimes campaign had this to say about Yellow Mitch’s duck and run act, “Mitch McConnell had to invent a phantom bus tour to hide from the fact that he has done next to nothing to help create jobs in 30 years, while we’ve lost thousands of good-paying jobs. Rather than accept multiple opportunities for Kentuckians to hear two very different visions for the future, McConnell is strangely comfortable hiding behind the dark money millionaires and billionaires trying to buy his way back to Washington.”

Debates are a key piece of the democratic process. Voters deserve to see their choices debate. Mitch McConnell doesn’t want the Kentucky voters informed. He doesn’t want the voters to compare the two candidates. This behavior is coming from the same candidate who constantly complains that the Koch brothers right to free speech is under attack.

If Mitch McConnell has his way, he will speak more to the Koch brothers this year than to Kentucky voters.

Sen. McConnell is running scared.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association