(Picture credit Matt Johnson)
Congressman Mike Flood’s campaign says his Democratic challenger, Chris Backemeyer, is dodging a planned debate between the two candidates. The campaign issued a statement on Thursday afternoon claiming Backemeyer “backtracked and refused multiple offers” for a debate hosted by Nebraska Public Media.
The Flood campaign says they offered Backemeyer multiple dates, September 21 and 23, for when to hold the debate and “even canceling planned campaign events” to accommodate a debate.
Backemeyer declined both dates.
"Nebraskans deserve an opportunity to hear from both candidates before voting begins. Chris Backemeyer told Nebraska media he wants to debate, but Back-Track Backemeyer turned down multiple dates when it came time to schedule it,” Brentin Ungar, Flood’s campaign manager, said in a statement.
Backemeyer responded Thursday evening and said Flood was trying to “invent a story.” “Debate invitations were sent in JULY. Just this week, Flood's team offered 2 days, take it or leave it. We offered any day in October. They also outright declined another invite that we accepted, but that's missing from their release,” he said.
Flood consultant Jessica Flanagain responded to Backemeyer’s claims, saying the reason he did not accept a September 23 debate date was that he is hosting an “Arts & Humanities” meet and greet with supporters.
The Flood campaign said they want the debate to happen in September before early votes get cast.
— John Gage is the executive editor of The Plains Sentinel.