How Many Debates Between Barrett, Walker Still Up for Debate

The day after the in which both Gov. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett got the decisive nod from their supporters, just how many debates the two will participate in seems to be, well, up for debate.

After the Walker campaign announced Wednesday that he would participate in two debates with his opponent, Barrett's campaign issued a press release saying the mayor had accepted invitations to four debates.

Barrett called Walker out, challenging him to accept the same invitations.

"Scott Walker loves to launch misleading attacks on jobs in news conferences and press releases, so let's meet face to face and compare our records and our visions on jobs before the people of Wisconsin," said Barrett in a written statement. "He can explain why Wisconsin lost more jobs than any other state in the nation under his watch."

Barrett said he has accepted the following invitations:

• A forum on June 3 hosted by the League of Women Voters and a consortium of statewide media broadcast live from the FOX6 studios in Brown Deer.
• A debate hosted by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association on May 25.
• A debate hosted by Marquette Law School, WisPolitics and WISN-TV 12 and "UpFront with Mike Gousha" on May 31.
• A debate hosted by Wisconsin Public TV, Wisconsin Public Radio, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Today’s TMJ4.

According to the Walker campaign, he has agreed to participate in the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association forum on May 25 and the May 31 debate  with Mike Gousha.

Walker's camp said the governor will use the debates to highlight how his budget reforms are working.

“Governor Walker is excited to discuss the positive effects that the bold reforms put in place last year have brought to the people of Wisconsin and how those reforms are moving the state forward,” said Walker campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews. “He looks forward to the robust debates and contrasting his record of success that has laid the foundation for a successful future against the failed policies of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett that would take the state backward.”

Patch called the Walker campaign and spoke with Matthews. She said they have no further comment beyond what's in the press release so it looks like we will have two forums a week apart. The May 31 debate takes place just five days before voters head to the polls to decide the outcome of the recall.