Jackson, like Trump, seeks to avoid the media & debating sharp women

<p>It&#39;s a plan that worked for Donald Trump in 2024: when faced with the prospect of getting his debate clock cleaned by a more veteran politician (who I suppose just happens to be a black woman), <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/georgia/atlanta/2026/09/23/jackson-declining-atlanta-press-club-debate-is-first-in-decades/91902083007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Rick Jackson is making history in ditching debate after debate</strong></a>. </p><p>Jackson said &#39;no&#39; to WXIA-TV/Tegna, was a no-show at a Macon debate, and has now stiff-armed the Atlanta Press Club&#39;s debate series - a 32-year first for Georgia&#39;s gubernatorial race.</p><p>=+=+=+=</p><p>Meanwhile, it&#39;s somewhat flown under the radar that the GOP <a href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/09/georgia-republicans-get-it-together-separately/?gift_article_code=VHQxSEpuLXN4ZkpxT01QUDZUQjBaYWt6Yi04Zk1saUNyNEtJRkxYbEhHdzoxNzkzMDY4NjIyOjkyNjQyZjRjZTJmMWJhZWY&utm_campaign=articlegifting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>nominee for governor and the state&#39;s GOP chairman, Josh McKoon, hadn&#39;t so much as shared a lunch</strong></a> since Jackson became the nominee. Is McKoon tight with Burt Jones, the outgoing lieutenant governor Rick ambushed with attacks during the primary? </p><p>Maybe now that they&#39;re - I guess - working together to win in November, Josh could help &#39;slick Rick&#39; sharpen up his housing affordability policy position and square it with his past where - as the affluent owner of a sprawling estate with the 82-room mansion - he <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/billionaire-maga-candidate-stunning-snobbery-210341227.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>fought affordable housing being built anywhere near his estate</strong></a>. </p>