The two major party candidates for Michigan attorney general are debating over why they have not had any debates.
There have been debates proposed between Democrat Dana Nessel and Republican Tom Leonard. But they have fallen through because of who else was invited to share the stage.
Nessel says she objects to Leonard’s campaign’s insistence on including independent candidate Chris Graveline.
Graveline’s unconventional inclusion into the debate over who gets to debate is just the latest step in the unconventional path his candidacy has followed. The former federal prosecutor failed to collect enough signatures to get on the November ballot. But a judge granted him an injunction to be placed on the ballot.
Polls have shown Nessel leading Leonard among likely Michigan voters, with Graveline and other third party getting support from less than 5% of voters combined.
That’s why Nessel says only she and Leonard should debate.
“The way I’ve seen debates traditionally done, if you’re not polling at a certain level, you’re not considered viable… and you’re just taking up the oxygen,” says Nessel. “In a debate… we should be hearing from people who actually have a chance of being seated in that office.”
A Leonard campaign spokesman accuses Nessel of “playing games” ahead of next month’s election.
