The No Debate Debate.

  

   Governor Bentley says he will not debate the Democratic nominee because all he does is run

 "negative campaign ads, name calling and political grandstanding."

Parker Griffith called Bentley

"unmanly and arrogant" for refusing to debate.

     Bentley had previously said he would debate. 
     Griffith showed up recently with a giant inflatable duck in  Montgomery and criticized the incumbent for "ducking" a debate.
     Gubernatorial debates have a long history in Alabama....you can still watch the 2002 debate that I moderated between Don Siegelman and Bob Riley HERE on the CSPAN website.
     Bentley has no reason to debate. Any negative public reaction will be minor, and there's always the chance he could screw up terrible and hurt himself while giving him opponent lots of free exposure.

     Perhaps Alabama Public Television should tell Parker Griffith to show up on the given date and time and have the debate with or without the Governor...the empty chair gambit. Otherwise all they do is give one of the candidates the power to nix their debate plan.      
     Given the possibility of Griffith getting a free hour of statewide TV exposure....the incumbent might change his mind.