Virginia gubernatorial debate in question as candidates decline options

TheBrief AVirginiagubernatorialdebatesetforSeptemberhasbeencanceled. ThecandidatesareDemocraticnomineeAbigailSpanbergerandRepublicannominee,LieutenantGovernorWinsomeEarle-Sears. Earle-Searsdeclined,citingschedulingconflicts,butacceptedaseparatedebateinvitationfromCNN. Spanberger’scampaignsaidshewouldnotparticipateinthatevent,expressingapreferenceforaVirginia-baseddebateinstead. WASHINGTON–Withjust81daystogountilVirginiavoterschoosetheirnextgovernor,there’sstillnowordonwhetherthetwomajorcandidateswillmeetonthedebatestage. Earlierthisweek,AARPVirginiacanceleditsPeople’sDebate,whichwassetforSept.16atVirginiaStateUniversity. ThedecisioncameafteronlyDemocraticnomineeAbigailSpanbergeracceptedtheinvitation.Republicannominee,LieutenantGovernorWinsomeEarle-Sears,declined,citingschedulingconflicts. Whatthey’resaying OnWednesday,Earle-SearsacceptedaseparatedebateinvitationfromCNNbutonThursday,Spanberger’scam