Over to Georgia
Ossoff debates empty podium as Perdue refuses to participateBY MARINA PITOFSKY Democrat Jon Ossoff debated an empty podium on Sunday night, repeatedly blasting his opponent, Georgia Sen. David Perdue (R), for refusing to participate in the debate.
Ossoff and Perdue are facing off in one of the two Jan. 5 Senate runoffs in in the Peach State.
Atlanta’s Fox5 evening anchor Russ Spencer, who moderated the debate, introduced the candidates, with the camera showing an empty podium as he introduced Perdue. Spencer explained that the Georgia senator “declined to participate."
Perdue had said last month that he would not participate in the debate. Ossoff repeatedly slammed Perdue over his absence.
“The reason that we are losing thousands of people per day to this virus is because of the arrogance of politicians like David Perdue. So arrogant that he disregarded public health expertise and so arrogant that he’s not with us here today to answer questions," the Democrat said during a question about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Georgia and across the country.
“It shows an astonishing arrogance and sense of entitlement for Georgia’s senior U.S. senator to believe he shouldn’t have to debate at a moment like this in our history,” he added.
Ossoff also claimed that Perdue did not attend the debate because he did not want to “incriminate himself,” referencing the Republican’s controversial record of trading stocks throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The Perdue campaign has denied allegations that the senator made trades based on insider information and has said ...
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