Ossoff Out: After Talking Big Game, Georgia Liberal Dodges CNN Debate Ahead of Special Election – Townhall

In arecent post about Democrats finally bagging a pair of special election legislative pick-ups in New Hampshire and New York last month-- which came just prior to a very flawed Republicandefeating an even more flawed Democrat in Montana's special Congressional race -- I highlighted a poll out of Georgia showing liberal Jon Ossoff opening up a seven-point lead over conservative Karen Handel in theclosely-watched GA-06 race. Voters in that traditionally-Republican but Trump-skeptical district (Romney won it handily, Trump barely) will choose their next Congressperson in a June 20th runoff. Peach State Republicans will openly concede that the contest is very close and will boil down to turnout, but they've pushed back hard against that particular survey, arguing that theirinternal numbers look neck-and-neck. Sure enough, afresh poll taken just after Memorial Day weekend shows the race as a jump ball:

The Real Clear Politicsaverage --which includes the previous outlier, withall other polls well within themargin-of-error-- gives Ossoff a tenuous lead oftwo percentage points. Havingfailed to secure an outright majority in April's initial election, thepro-Obamacare Pelosi Democrat challenged his Republican opponent to half a dozendebates. After the GOP nominee declined to participate inone proposed debate in early May, Ossoffpronounced himself "available" and "always up for" a debate.Now, he's ducking forums,abandoning his 'let's debate six times!' bravado. On second thought, how about two? And definitely not on CNN:

By referring to Ossoff's "fictitious narrative and flimsy resume," the Handel campaign is no doubt seeking to highlight the young liberal'sdubious posture as a fiscal hawk, and hishabitually-exaggerated "national security" credentials. And Republicans rarely miss a chance to point out thatthe vast majority of Ossoff's flood ofcampaign donations have arrived from out of state, including acritical mass from left-wing California (especially theSan Francisco Bay area). Perhaps CNN could sweeten the pot for Ossoff in an effort to make him feel more at home by offering to hold the debate somewhere other than the Sixth Congressional District, where the Democratdoes not actually live. I'll leave you with a fewpositivetelevision ads from the Handel campaign, one of whichrefutes the inevitable Democraticattacks that she -- the only woman in the race -- is weak on "women's health:"

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Ossoff Out: After Talking Big Game, Georgia Liberal Dodges CNN Debate Ahead of Special Election - Townhall