A local Atlanta news station canceled a Georgia gubernatorial debate scheduled for Tuesday after Republican nominee Rick Jackson’s campaign skipped the debate in favor of an October match-up.

Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the Democratic nominee for governor, hit Jackson hard over his refusal to agree to more debates throughout the campaign, dubbing him “Slick Rick” and calling him “too afraid” to face off. But Jackson’s campaign has argued he is more focused on directly connecting with Georgia voters rather than debating.

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