LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kentucky candidates for Senate Amy McGrath and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are planning on facing off in-person on Monday.
Ahead of the debate, McGrath has requested both participants be tested for the virus first.
"I think it's a matter of public health, you know, we're all going be in the same place. Given what happened this weekend or last weekend with the Rose Garden Ceremony I think it's quite obvious isn't it? I don't think it's a really difficult request to respond to," McGrath told LEX18 during a campaign stop this week.
But McConnell has also responded saying he will listen to the advice of his physician on whether to get tested, and he is not concerned with the rising cases at the White House because he hasn't been there in over two months.
"I haven't been in the White House since August the 6th. I personally didn't feel that they were approaching protection from this illness in the same way I thought was appropriate for the Senate, and the Senate has been operating in a way that I think has largely prevented contraction of this disease," said McConnell during a stop in Bourbon County this week.
Coronavirus testing protocol isn't the only thing the two candidates have been clashing over this week. McGrath criticized McConnell after President Trump said he's calling for an end to negotiations on a stimulus bill until after the election.
"Quitting on the very aid that almost everybody says we need right now, including himself. How do you justify that Senator, McConnell?" asked McGrath.
But despite the President's order McConnell, who has been in favor of a second relief bill says talks are still happening.
"We're still engaging and hoping we can find a way forward. At some point, we're going to have to find a way forward because I do think there is a bipartisan agreement that we need another package, but the amount of money is not irrelevant," said McConnell.
The two candidates are also greatly divided over their views on the Justice candidate. McGrath as well as others in the Democratic Party have criticized McConnell for vowing to push President Trump's pick for Supreme Court Justice, Amy Coney Barrett forward despite it being an election year.
