Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty’s campaign accused GOP challenger Geoff Diehl of debate dodging ahead of the state Republican convention– a claim Diehl’s camp vehemently denies.
“Diehl has not agreed to debate,” Doughty’s spokesperson Holly Robichaud said in an email. “He has not even agreed to do (On the Record on WCVB) or Keller at Large (on WBZ)… he is dodging everything.”
Businessman Doughty released a statement Wednesday announcing that he’d agreed to a May 10 debate hosted by the Norfolk County Republican Club.
Diehl’s spokesperson Peggy Rose said he is “not available” that day. Robichaud added that Doughty has also agreed to a debate on August 22 hosted by WCVB, as well as debate offers from GBH and Keller at Large, with the dates still to be determined.
She also noted that Doughty has appeared on several news programs including “On the Record,” though Diehl appeared on the show in July, months before Doughty entered the race. Diehl, a former state Rep. from Whitman who’s been endorsed by Donald Trump, declined a request to be interviewed on Keller at Large.
In response, Rose called the discussion of Republican primary debates “premature” given that Doughty may not hit the 15% delegate vote required to advance past the MassGOP convention. That convention is scheduled May 21, in Springfield.
They did agree to “discuss and participate in debates before the Republican primary in September, and in the general election as well,” Rose said.
On Doughty’s accusation of debate dodging, Rose said, “our statement stands for itself.”
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