Fischer declined further comment until Bernero and Snyder reach consensus, as the number of debates that will be held in any election cycle is determined by the candidates.

Snyder spokesman Bill Nowling said negotiations between the candidates about the number of debates likely will take place within the next week.

Debates typically are not good measures of a candidate’s stance, which partially is why Snyder is intent on holding three, he said.

“The problem is the debates aren’t really debates,” Nowling said. “They really just become media circuses and you don’t get to talk about the issues, you get to talk about zingers and one-liners.”

Typically hosted by television stations, three debates are standard for both presidential and gubernatorial races, said Bernie Porn, president of Lansing-based polling firm EPIC-MRA.

But that does not stop Bernero from fighting for more.

Winning competitions since he was in high school, Bernero is a fantastic debater, said William Repko, head coach of the MSU Debate Team.

Because Snyder is leading by 12 points in a recent poll, debating might be a strength Bernero is relying on to win, Repko said.

“(Bernero) wants as many debates as possible because it is a format that’s very conducive to his interests,” Repko said.

The debates also offer free television time, something Bernero needs since he cannot compete with Snyder’s virtually unlimited funds, Porn said. Snyder spent nearly $6 million of his own money campaigning for the Republican nomination leading up to the Aug. 3 primary.

“(Bernero) is a good debater and very confident, and so he’d like to debate every day if he could,” Porn said. “Increasing the number of debates would probably benefit Bernero because that gives him more public exposure without having to resort to television advertising.”

As a political outsider, Snyder does not have much experience debating. Every debate is a risk for committing a verbal mistake that could hurt his campaign, Repko said.

“(Snyder) knows he has an edge in terms of polling, and each debate is an opportunity for that one memorable bad moment,” Repko said. “Obviously, he could shine in the debates as well and make his lead grow, but he doesn’t need his lead to grow.”

Even if he does not make a mistake, Snyder’s style could turn off potential voters. Put bluntly, his previous debates have sounded “a little bit like giving a profit loss report to a board of directors,” Porn said.

Although the candidates have yet to resolve their differences about the number of debates to be held, in the end, Snyder likely will win out, Repko said.

“Bernero doesn’t have a lot of leverage to have Snyder do a whole ton more debates than he wants to do,” Repko said. “It seems like three or four is going to be the right number.”