The candidates participated in only two debates. The first was held on July 7, at Chatfield College in St. Martin in Brown County, moderated by Jack Atherton of WXIX-TV, the Fox Network affiliate in Cincinnati. Hackett told the audience his opponent was "a rubber stamp for failed policies" and "if you think America is on the right track and we need more of the same, I'm not your candidate." The second debate was held July 26, at the Ohio Valley Career and Technical School in West Union in Adams County. Howard Wilkinson of "The Cincinnati Enquirer" said Hackett in the second debate was "trying to paint Schmidt as a Taft-Bush robot." The two also made joint appearances on WCET-TV's "Forum" on July 28, and WKRC-TV's "Newsmakers" on July 31.