Leading candidates in Governor's race set to meet in one and only debate

But Wednesday's debate will feature both candidates in an increasingly close race and only six days from the election.

"I think we could have had a much more robust campaign on the issues out there," explained Presley during the Mississippi Economic Council's Hobnob. 

"Had the voters been able to see us five times between October 1 and Election Day. But it's obvious the governor chicken out of doing those debates and although we went in a couple of times debated a empty chair, there is no debate. So, yeah, it was disappointing but not surprising from somebody like Tate Reeves." 

Presley has spent much of this campaign challenging Reeves on his refusal to permit expansion to some of Mississippi's poorest and most at-risk residents, and their access to health care services. He's added such an expansion would also address chronic funding issues in the state's rural hospitals.

"There is no doubt that Medicaid expansion dealing with the problem of uncompensated care that these hospitals see would be a life preserver for the hospitals. They will tell you that any study will tell you that the state economist says that this program will pay for itself because you're creating 16,000 health care jobs. That's what the state economist says. That's Tate Reeves own state economist.

On the campaign trail, incumbent Governor Tate Reeves' pitch to voters has been that his brand of conservative leadership is working. To make this point, Reeves has touted economic gains like the state's record low unemployment rate and high levels of new capital investment.

Reeves has repeatedly pointed to educational gains as well. These include the reading score improvements that have been dubbed "the Mississippi miracle." 

"10 years ago in fourth grade, reading, our fourth graders were 49th-best. Last year, our fourth graders were 21st-best in the nation," Reeves told the crowd at Hobnob.

"I'm proud of the work that's going on in our classroom. And I think it is a clear indicator that conservative policies work."

Reeves will defend his record on stage with Presley, whom he has attempted to paint as a puppet of liberal, national Democrats who want to take over Mississippi.

"They don't just want to change governors; they want to change Mississippi. And the reason they want to change it is because if you believe in far-left policies, if you're a radical liberal, a thriving Mississippi does not work for you."

Reeves recently received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. A recent poll found Presley trailing Reeves by one percentage point.