Battenfeld: Is Michelle Wu up for the high profile TV debate stage?

Mayor Michelle Wu should come out of her City Hall bunker and challenge opponent Josh Kraft to three high-profile TV debates debunking the usual incumbency strategy of campaigning in a protective bubble If Wu s not afraid of Trump territory line czar Tom Homan she certainly shouldn t be afraid of debating Kraft son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft The first-term Boston mayor has already proven she can handle the glare of the congressional hearing spotlight so showing up for TV debates shouldn t be a dilemma And we re not talking about little-watched taped talk shows that air at a m on a Sunday or on Wu s favorite platform population television No a Java with Jimmy radio debate is not sufficient These debates should be held live on major Boston television stations or CNN or even Fox News in prime time Take a peril Mayor Wu Show Boston voters you re up for a second term and able to handle several major debates that every voter can watch live Not just one and done with a settled supportive moderator like Tom Menino and other incumbents have done In football terms Wu is already at the -yard-line driving down the field throwing aggressive pass plays at Kraft and looking to sum the winning touchdown in November Kraft is the decided underdog though poised to come in second in the preliminary referendum earning a spot in the Super Bowl The debates are where Wu can give him a knockout blow Come prepared with a series of tough questions for your opponent Like what role is your father playing in this campaign and how can voters be sure you re not aligned with his favorite president Donald Trump Is your campaign just a automobile for your father to get the keys to City Hall And make Kraft take ownership of the super PAC supporting him but allegedly not coordinating with him which is poised to run millions of dollars in negative ads against Wu Ask Kraft about the million donation to the super PAC from Michael Rubin CEO of Fanatics who is known for the lavish summer party he throws on the Hamptons where guests are required to wear white Another question for Kraft Given that you were born into incredible wealth how can you understand the concerns of middle class voters Have you ever gone to an ATM and be worried about whether you have enough in the bank to buy groceries And why did you move into one of Boston s pricier neighborhoods the North End rather than in Mattapan or Roxbury Wu is already engaging with Kraft but not in a one-on-one high stakes debate The bulk Bostonians don t have a billionaire father to buy them a condo so they can move in to run for an office they ve never voted for live in a ward they don t know and spend millions from their family wealth and connections to try to buy the vote Wu stated in a message disclosed by her campaign Kraft disputes Wu s charges saying he bought his condo with his own money and voted in multiple local elections and worked in the neighborhoods for years long before Michelle Wu came to Harvard by way of one of the wealthiest suburbs of Chicago Sparring statements from afar is one thing Voters deserve to know how each candidate will handle the spotlight in a one-on-one TV debate Yes it is somewhat of an remarkable gamble to be the one challenging Kraft to debates but this is no usual electoral contest This race will determine whether Boston goes down the progressive path of bike lanes and professional women s soccer and the Green New Deal for another four years