BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District is some of the most contested political real estate in the country. It's why candidates and their allies spend millions upon millions of dollars every cycle to broadcast ads highlighting their party's pitch and to vilify their opponent.
But those ads don't always convey a candidate's personality or history or foibles. As a result, there's a societal expectation for candidates to participate in televised debates. These programs force candidates to showcase their communication skills, test their grasp of the issues and challenge them to respond to questions they may otherwise avoid.
But for the first time in years, the 7th District will not see a debate ahead of the general election. Democratic candidate Bob Brooks pulled out following a dispute with Republican Ryan Mackenzie's campaign over attack ads.
In this episode, political scientist Chris Borick and host Tom Shortell discuss the situation and the potential backlash that Brooks may face for backing out of the debate days before its recording.
Borick noted that while Brooks may take heat for the decision, it may ultimately be the savvy choice for his campaign. Brooks, a firefighter union boss making his first electoral campaign, isn't known for his oratory skills. Meanwhile Mackenzie is a seasoned, disciplined politician. It has the potential to wound Brooks ahead of the election.
"If I was the advisor – and again, I'm nobody's advisor, I'm a political scientist with some distance on this – I would say the safer bet is not to do the debate," Borick said.
Shortell noted Brooks may be passing on a golden opportunity to deliver a knockout performance if he's up for it. While traditional debates may be losing popularity due to the proliferation of podcasts and the rise of social media, there's no question they can reshape a campaign. Exhibit A? The 2024 Trump-Biden debate.
"That turned the election on its head. Clearly, (debates) are still important," Shortell said.