If you were to look through my email inbox, you'd see press releases from all sorts of public relations firms, elected officials and organizations.
But I've seen a new theme overwhelmingly emerge over the past couple of months: Calls for a gubernatorial debate.
Three of the four best-funded candidates for governor have been publicly challenging U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, to a debate. Blackburn has made it clear she won't heed their calls.
Candidates keep trying: Most of the calls for debate are solely directed at Blackburn.
- Democratic nominee Jerri Green challenged Blackburn to four debates across the state.
- Independent Lauren Pinkston called for a debate with Blackburn, Green and independent David Hatley after Green asked her to drop out. She is leading a petition in support of a debate.
- Hatley said he would donate $1 million to charity if Blackburn debates him and Green. Green said in response once Hatley "writes the checks and gives them to these charities," she would attend.
Why are candidates so obsessed with a debate? I've had this thought quite a few times over the past couple of weeks, so I consulted some experts.
Voters are used to seeing candidates debate, and it's important
vehicle for them to interact with candidates: "I think they're more useful than not to the public," Tom Ingram, the founder of The Ingram Group and chief of staff to former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, told me. "It's the only way most voters have a way to see a candidate in a less scripted environment."
Not addressing any specific scenario, Ingram told me it's unusual for a candidate to refuse to debate.
"Academically, there's two reasons you'd want to keep a candidate away from a debate: You're so far ahead and you don't want to waste your time, or you don't have confidence in your candidate in a debate forum," he said.
Front-runner candidates only stand to lose: It's evident by the fact the candidates are focusing their attention on Blackburn that they view her as their biggest competition.
"I see why she wouldn't debate," Susan Richardson Williams, a former Ingram Group manager, former Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman, former gubernatorial cabinet member and founder of SRW & Associates, told me. "There's nothing to gain. There's only ways to lose if you debate and you don't have a particularly good showing. If you're in the lead, you have everything to lose and nothing to gain."
Blackburn uses the challenge to evoke nationwide Republican Party talking points about Democratic candidates: After I exclusively reported Green asked Pinkston to drop out in September, I asked Blackburn's campaign whether she would participate in a debate. Anna Katherine White, the communications director at Baker Group Strategies, sent me two YouTube clips of the senator answering the same question in response. In both, Blackburn called Green a socialist.
"I'm not going to give any air to someone who is a socialist," she told WDEF in Chattanooga. "In 1776, we've just celebrated 250 years. In 1776, what was the battle cry? 'The British are coming.' Today, 250 years later, it is 'The communists are coming.'"
Other candidates have everything to gain: The calculation flips for Green, Hatley and Pinkston. Candidates benefit from media attention, and outlets across the state have been reporting about their challenges to Blackburn.
"They want the debate because it'll give them the free exposure," Ingram said.
And when Blackburn declines the invitations, that inspires a strategy for her opponents, too.
"From a challenger standpoint, you can say, 'Why is she not debating? Is she afraid to debate me?'" Richardson Williams said.
How can I get to know the candidates? The Knox News voter's guide is available at knoxnews.com. I did in-person interviews with Green, Hatley and Pinkston, and Blackburn, Green and Pinkston filled out our questionnaire.
When's the election? Election Day is Nov. 3, and early voting is Oct. 14-29. Make sure you register by Oct 5!
Harshbarger sticks with Blackburn endorsement after staffer posts Hatley video
U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, who represents the northeast corner of the state, doubled down on her endorsement of Blackburn after her district director, Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee member Patricia Mills, posted a video from independent Hatley's campaign on her personal Facebook account.
"Congresswoman Harshbarger supports our Republican nominees 100%, including Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee's next governor," spokesperson Max Mallhi told me.
District directors are typically the top representative of the congressperson in their district and report directly to the chief of staff. They are members of congresspeople's legislative staff and are paid with taxpayer dollars.
"It was not an endorsement of David Hatley or an indication of support for his candidacy," Mallhi said. "The staff member removed the post after realizing that sharing it could be misconstrued."
What you can do: Oct. 5 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. You can make sure you're registered at tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup.
Knox County commissioners approve data center zoning ban
To follow up, Knox County commissioners approved an update to the county's zoning rules that puts a moratorium on data centers in September.
The commission passed a one-year moratorium on data centers that require over 5 megawatts of power in June. After June 30, commissioners can extend the ban if they want.
The update commissioners approved Sept. 21 adds a stronger enforcement component though zoning.
Hurricane Helene spotlight
When we dispatched our team to East Tennessee communities as floodwaters from Hurricane Helene rose, we made a commitment to neighbors that we would stick with the stories we told and the people we spoke to.
Here's how we commemorated two years since the tragic storm and flooding:
What East Tennessee has lost, learned and rebuilt two years since Helene
Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee - look back 2 years later with photos, video
5 things you may have missed
Here are five news highlights from the last week:
I reported Blackburn is calling for Tennessee to revert to electric chair in executions
Tyler Whetstone exclusively reported prosecutors are pushing hard to shield agents from testifying in ICE raid case
USA TODAY Network-Tennessee reported the unsuccessful Christa Pike execution follows years of lethal injection issues
Emmett Siegel exclusively reported the Tennessee student accused of stealing Auburn secrets never worked for Vols
Sophia Tiedge reported Gay Street properties hit the market for $8.4M two months after latest sale
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why are TN governor candidates fighting about debates? 'Free exposure'
