MSNBC’s Joy Reid accepts Herschel Walker debate challenge

MSNBC personality Joy Reid has accepted a debate challenge from Senate candidate Herschel Walker.

The back-and-forth began Tuesday when Reid tweeted video of the Georgia football-star-turned-candidate appearing on Fox News between Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham. During that TV appearance, Walker used the word “erection” when he meant to say “election.” His conservative colleagues played along like nothing happened.

“The ancestors are weeping” Reid tweeted. “And why does he always need these handlers (who can’t even stop him from embarrassing himself.) Just humiliating…”

Walker returned fire on a right-wing Internet program Wednesday.

“I‘d love to debate Joy Reid,” he said.

Walker referred to his debate against Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock last month, claiming victory and saying he would also fare well in a one-on-one contest against Reid. Walker said Reid might be adept at being a television presenter, but a debate with him would prove more difficult.

“I say, any day of the week she wants to debate, she can show up here and I’ll debate her as well on any subject,” he said. “She can come up with the subject, and let’s go at it.”

Reid wasted no time Wednesday night inviting Walker to visit her MSNBC program.

“Okay, Herschel, come on,” she gleefully said. “No, seriously. We reached out to your team. We will have you on the ‘ReidOut’ any day. And we can debate. Just tell us when.”

Reid’s only caveat was that Walker couldn’t bring Cruz and Graham with him on her show.

Walker tweeted a Thanksgiving message Thursday, but has not responded to Reid’s challenge. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

He has for the most part limited television appearances to friendly environments like Fox News, but did appear on NBC News three weeks before the Nov. 8 election in which Warnock topped him by less than 1% of the vote in Georgia. Because neither candidate reached 50%, a runoff election will be held on Dec. 6.