A political forum that features 12th U.S. Congressional District candidates Republican Max Burns and Democrat Charles "Champ" Walker Jr. is scheduled to air Sunday, marking the closest thing to a debate between the two opponents since each won his respective primary this summer.
The show's taping Friday ended weeks of speculation that the two hopefuls might make it to Election Day without going head-to-head on the issues.
"I think the citizens have a clear choice," Mr. Walker said after the taping. "People have said I was afraid to debate him. That was a half-truth. They should play this tape over and over again."
The Augusta Report was recorded in the studios of WJBF-TV Channel 6.
During the Friday afternoon taping, Mr. Walker called his conservative opponent an extremist who supports abolishing Social Security and Medicare.
Mr. Burns responded after the show, saying his Democratic challenger makes baseless attacks because he lacks a platform.
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WHEN TO WATCH
The Augusta Report with 12th District Congressional candidates Max Burns and Charles "Champ" Walker Jr. will air on WJBF-TV Channel 6 at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
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Although the forum was moderated, the two candidates directly debated each other several times, especially on the issue of preserving Medicare and Social Security.
Mr. Walker contends that Mr. Burns, in signing a "Liberty Compact" drafted by the Republican Liberty Caucus, supports abolishing Medicare and the Department of Education. The caucus is a nationwide grass-roots organization affiliated with the Republican Party.
"He is too extreme. He should do his homework," Mr. Walker said. "He doesn't know the significance of what he signed."
But Mr. Burns said his opponent is "making a large leap" between the contract he signed and a statement on the caucus' Web site that expresses support for getting rid of several government programs and departments.
The "Liberty Contract," is a one-paragraph statement about shrinking government and promoting freedom. The 13-paragraph position statement the caucus has posted on its Web site supports abolishing the federal entitlement to Medicare and the U.S. Department of Education.
Mr. Burns said he would not have signed the "Liberty Compact" if he knew about the caucus' position statement.
"Mr. Walker has no platform and no basis for the issues," Mr. Burns said after the show was taped. "All he wants to do is attack me."
"He is too extreme. He should do his homework," - Charles "Champ" Walker Jr., on opponent Max Burns' ties to the Republican Liberty Caucus
Reach Heidi Coryell Williams at (706) 823-3215 or heidi.williams@augustachronicle.com.
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