More Debate Hate

Who runs Attorney General Greg Abbott's re-election campaign? Not Abbott, seemingly. In an Aug. 26 interview with the Texas Tribune, the Republican incumbent refused to commit to a debate with Democratic challenger Barbara Ann Radnofsky. When asked by Tribune Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith why not, Abbott said: "That is going to be up to the people who run my campaign. I don't make those decisions." He claimed that he paid his staff "good money" to make these campaign choices for him, but Radnofsky fired back: "Taxpayers pay Mr. Abbott 'good money' to make key decisions. A public official should not palm off the decision to debate vital issues of the day."