ATLANTA – Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams were scheduled to have their final debate two days before the midterm election – but it appears the debate has been put on ice.
“Brian Kemp says he wants to be our next governor, but he’s breaking his promise to show up for the job interview,” Abrams said in a statement on Wednesday.
The debate, slated for Sunday, Nov. 4, was scheduled to happen the same day President Donald Trump will be in Georgia campaigning for Kemp -- about 100 miles away in Macon.
Ryan Mahoney, Kemp’s communications director, told 11Alive that Kemp is not dropping out of the debate and wants to reschedule or change venues.
"We offered multiple days, times, and venues to debate. Unfortunately, Stacey Abrams canceled the WSB-TV debate," Mahoney said in a statement. "Abrams is ducking Georgia voters because she can't defend her extreme, radical agenda on live television."
GOVERNOR'S DEBATE RECAP | Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams face off
The Kemp and Trump rally is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon.
The final gubernatorial debate, hosted by WSB, is scheduled for 5 p.m. The station said it is continuing to look for alternative times to reschedule, but the campaigns can't agree on when. The Kemp campaign accused Abrams' of not wanting to reschedule, but the Democratic candidate's camp said it had a prior campaign stop along the Georgia coast Monday.
"We have repeatedly explained our existing commitments to WSB, and we are disappointed that the Kemp campaign is demanding we renege on our promises. We believe it would be irresponsible to break our commitment," a campaign spokesperson said in a statement.
Former President Barack Obama is also scheduled to be in Georgia this week – campaigning for Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College.
Oprah Winfrey will also be in metro Atlanta this Thursday, Nov. 1 to host two town halls with Abrams.
MORE | Oprah joining Stacey Abrams in two town hall events in metro Atlanta: How to get free tickets
Here are helpful links for Georgia Voters:
Register to vote online: sos.ga.gov/elections
Change voter registration address: sos.ga.gov/elections
Check registration status: www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Election offices by county: http://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/countyregistrarsindex.asp
