Debate a no-go in Ohio gubernatiorial race

Sep. 16, 2014, 10:57 PM EDT

By Michael LaRosa

In 1978, Governor Jim Rhodes refused to debate his Democratic challenger, Dick Celeste. Thirty-six years later, Ohio’s Republican Governor John Kasich is taking the same position. On Tuesday, Kasich’s campaign announced it was walking away from debate negotiations with Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald.

“Despite good faith efforts on our side, the implosion of his campaign two months ago put a pause on debate negotiations, and then the recent abandonment by his party and giveaway of his campaign cash seems to now have finished off any serious effort by their campaign altogether,” said Kasich spokesman Connie Wehrkamp. “We think moving on is the best thing to do.”

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald speaks with supporters after his Democratic primary victory over Larry Ellis Ealy at the Ohio Democratic Party… AP

Michael LaRosa

Michael LaRosa is a former press secretary to Jill Biden and special assistant to President Joe Biden. He was a communications adviser to House leadership, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and the U.S. Senate Energy Committee. He was a producer for MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. He is currently a Partner at Ballard and Ballard Media Group, a bipartisan advocacy and public relations firm in Washington, D.C.

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Debate a no-go in Ohio gubernatiorial race

Debate a no-go in Ohio gubernatiorial race

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