The Sweep: Here Comes Senate Debate Season

Plus, does the fundraising battle in Arizona even matter?

By and
25

Senate Debate Season: Battleground Edition!

Grab your popcorn, folks. It’s the moment all you political junkies have been waiting for: Senate debate season! We’ll be paying especially close attention to the October 25 Senate debate in Pennsylvania, where Democratic candidate John Fetterman—who had a stroke in May that kicked him off the campaign trail for several months—will debate Republican celebrity television host Dr. Mehmet Oz. But here are a few other dates we’re adding to our calendars: 

  • Wisconsin: GOP Sen. Ron Johnson will debate Democrat Mandela Barnes on October 7 and October 13.

  • Georgia: Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock will debate Republican Herschel Walker October 14.

  • Ohio: Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan will debate Republican J.D. Vance on October 10 and 17.

Start a Free Trial
Get unlimited access to our 10 daily and weekly newsletters, Dispatch Live broadcasts, article comments and community events. Get Started ALREADY A PAID SUBSCRIBER? SIGN IN
25
By and
Comments (25)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    🐝 BusyBusyBee 🐝

    I wonder if a moment of thought in the “enthusiasm” metric went into the actual primaries that were happening.

    As far as I can tell, Dems had very few “competitive” primaries, where Republicans had then in most races.

    If there is ONE Democrat but FIVE Republicans running, which party’s primary would you vote in if you could swap your voter registration between the primary and general elections? The one that would have some bearing on the general I know for a fact this happened in Georgia, Ohio and Arizona.

    Don’t count the Dems out yet.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Greg Williams

      Based on what I saw and heard, that is exactly what happened in Ohio. I agree that the desire to vote for or against the Trump candidate was a big motivation for GOP primary turnout in many states. But I'm afraid that dynamic played out during the primaries. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see any indication that many GOP voters (including anti-Trumpers) will have the guts to vote for a democrat rather than let a Trump puppet get elected in November.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        🐝 BusyBusyBee 🐝

        With any luck, they’ll just leave the senate line blank. (Not that DeWine is any prize either. He’s term limited after this term and god only knows what kind of shenanigans he , the legislature and the Ohio courts will get up in the next 4 years. )

        Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    David Burke

    “I’m not that smart,” Walker recently told Savannah Morning News.

    So by all means, let’s put him in the *Greatest Deliberative Body* on the planet…

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      JohnM.

      Another lost Senate seat thanks to MAGA voters. Nose, meet face.

      Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    DougAz

    Is there any defensible case to be made by Conservatives for a Kevin McCarthy Speakership?

    Asks Liberal Doug.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      JohnM.

      Nope. But if the GOP wins the House majority, then we're all pretty much stuck with him. Shameful.

      Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      Dennis

      For this AZ conservative McCarthy has always been an embarrassment. The same now goes for most of the statewide ticket. Good thing there are all those ballot propositions giving me something to vote on.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        DougAz

        I'm concerned about what our Legislators are going to do again as to election denying and inane interference

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          Bill Nelson

          "...Legislators are going to do again as to election denying and inane interference."
          And what was the overall effect? Nothing. People don't really care about that, outside of the 4% who are party members.

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            DougAz

            I hope you're right. Unfortunately the Republicans have taken tangible actions and support anti Democracy. In fact.

            Collapse
  4. Avatar photo
    Dave K

    In regards to the debates, they are likely past their best before date. The main reason is that they rarely have a knockout punch and most people watching already have their mind made up. Almost nobody changes their mind after a debate.
    I honestly don't know why Warnock would debate Walker except to say he isn't afraid to debate him. Almost nobody would expect Walker to have any chance in that debate, but all he has to do is stick to a well thought out (by his handlers) strategy of not saying anything but talking points and avoiding saying anything REALLY stupid. Even a few stupid little things, people are expecting that going in so it doesn't lose him anything. What if he actually says something intelligent? People will go, "oh, so he isn't actually that dumb" and consider voting for him. I would argue that is how Trudeau got elected in Canada. Few had any expectations going into a debate with two much more cerebral people in then-PM Stephen Harper and the NDP's Tom Mulcair. But the Liberals had a great strategy and used Trudeau's acting background to provide a good strategy where Trudeau didn't look stupid next to either of these guys. I have no doubt that is what started people thinking that maybe he wasn't the spoiled trust-fund mimbo most of us thought and it was OK to vote for him. He didn't actually do anything in the debate of note, other than not look like a tool. If Walker comes out of it without looking completely stupid, it could swing enough voters to him.

    Collapse
    1. Seth

      I think that's a pretty good analysis. Sarah and Audrey hinted at that with the Bush/Gore comparisons, but you're explanation adds a lot of detail to that.

      Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      David Burke

      I would actually pay money to watch AZ, PA, and GA.

      Wudda shtshow…

      Collapse
  5. Avatar photo
    Angie

    I never know whether to despair or feel more hopeful after these...lol
    I hate not knowing while understanding why we can't...I just hope I can make it till the midterms,...lol

    Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    BrettH

    Wow, Congress has a 23% approval rating. That's about 20 points higher than what I would have thought.

    Collapse
    1. Raincheck

      And 20 points higher than my approval rating (among those who truly know me).

      Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      David Burke

      AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA

      Collapse
  7. Avatar photo
    PJ

    Not surprised Dr No McConnell thinks Sinema is effective. Two of our biggest problems.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      JohnM.

      That is certainly just a matter of (your) opinion. McConnell will go down in history as one of the most effective Senate majority leaders ever. Sen. Sinema helped save this country from even worse inflation than we already have and stopping a real ballooning of our national debt. Sen. McConnell knows of what he speaks.

      Collapse
      1. Rdtomasello51

        Maybe there is a little hyperbole in Mc Connell's remarks about Sinema but to have a Republican leader praise any democrat
        is rare. However, Sinema's standing with her own party probably dropped a ton with those remarks especially most of the progressive elements.

        Collapse
      2. Avatar photo
        PJ

        That is certainly just a matter of (your) opinion.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          Bill Nelson

          A plus $3T spending bill?

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            PJ

            No. McConnell "one of the most effective Senate majority leaders ever". Effective in my opinion would include doing good for the entire nation. Dr No is good at blocking anything Democrat, but often does not seem to care what that does to the nation. I am not saying Democrat is good. Not saying it is bad either. I am beyond tired of the binary bullshit.

            Collapse
  8. Pawpaw

    Good to hear Senators from one party praising members of the other. Gives me hope.

    Collapse