Impartial Senate candidate Evan McMullin, left, and incumbent Republican Sen. Mike Lee pose for images previous to their debate at UVU in Orem on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee and his unbiased challenger Evan McMullin have been each provided an opportunity to take part in a second, nationally televised debate on Fox Information.
McMullin agreed, however Lee didn't.
That’s in accordance with an announcement from the McMullin marketing campaign, which claims employees for Fox Information’ Bret Baier reached out to each Lee and McMullin in October to gauge curiosity in a nationally televised debate that will have aired on Nov. 1.
On Oct. 18, the day after McMullin and Lee sparred of their first and solely debate hosted by the Utah Debate Fee, Baier spoke on to McMullin about the potential of a second matchup, this time hosted by the Fox Information anchor.
McMullin stated “definitively that he would debate Lee if the senator agreed,” in accordance with the assertion.
However three days later, Baier contacted the McMullin marketing campaign to tell them that Lee didn't conform to the phrases.
McMullin maintains that Lee declined the supply due to the unbiased’s “dominating” efficiency within the first debate.
“It’s a disgrace that Sen. Lee is refusing to debate me on Fox Information. There’s a purpose why: Sen. Lee discovered throughout our final debate that he can not defend his indefensible file,” McMullin stated in an announcement.
However Lee’s marketing campaign stated the senator was as a substitute targeted on assembly with voters, and pushed again on McMullin’s assertion.
“It isn't correct to say he declined a debate. Sen. Lee repeatedly has invites from nationwide media shops and we can not say sure to all of them,” Lee spokesman Matt Lusty stated in an announcement.
“His precedence is to fulfill with voters and at this level within the calendar he’s spending numerous hours assembly with voters throughout the state to do all the things he can to make sure Republicans win management of the Senate in an effort to push again on the economy-killing insurance policies of the Biden administration.”
Lee has made appearances on Fox Information applications up to now couple of weeks, together with touring to Las Vegas the place Sean Hannity hosted a city corridor with Republican Senate candidate Adam Laxalt on Tuesday.
On the present, Lee referred to as McMullin “far left.” He argues McMullin wouldn't be unbiased as he claims however align with Democrats within the Senate if he's elected.
“We have now a saying the place I come from: If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it has webbed toes like duck, on this case, it’s a Democrat,” Lee stated.
McMullin on Wednesday criticized his opponent for not taking part in a second debate, telling the Deseret Information in an announcement that “Utahns deserve a full airing of the problems on this race, particularly the necessity to cut back the affect of particular pursuits, extremist factions, and celebration bosses that management Sen. Lee .... However Utahns received’t get that probability as a result of Sen. Lee received’t present as much as defend his file.”
McMullin stated he hopes Lee “reconsiders his refusal.”