Debates not a done deal: Some candidates duck the underdogs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Not all political debates have the panache of a presidential showdown. That’s one reason front-runners in races for Congress and governor across the U.S. sometimes refuse to debate their underdog challengers.
Empty lecterns and inflatable ducks — for candidates who “duck” debates — have been used to flag those who refuse to debate opponents, an increasingly common practice among front-runners in recent elections from Maryland to Florida a