News
Debate-shy: Candidates aren't sharing the stage like they used to
Debates in political campaigns used to be a given. Today, candidates increasingly view them as optional — or a political liability to be avoided. Why it matters: In a midterm cycle dominated by unprecedented spending on contrast ads, the candidates themselves are remarkably reluctant to challenge each other face-to-face. It's a sign of how campaigns have evolved, and an erosion of norms: Candidates — fueled by their…