CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Wednesday night's lively debate of Democratic governor candidates shows there are real policy differences between the people seeking Ohio's highest elected office. It also serves as a reminder that there has been no similar event on the Republican side of the race.

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor has been agitating for months for a debate with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine -- including arranging for a costumed duck, as in "ducking debates," to show up at Republican events -- but with no success. The state Republican Party, before Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted dropped out to become DeWine's running mate, in October proposed hosting four debates, but none have come to fruition. Last August, DeWine's derailed a debate planned by Americans for Prosperity, the conservative advocacy organization, by declining to participate. His campaign said at the time that he wanted to wait until after that year's November election, so voters could be less distracted by other elections.

DeWine, who enjoys a comfortable lead over Taylor in fundraising, endorsements and polling in the Republican governor primary, likely is taking a page from Ohio Gov. John Kasich's playbook in the 2014 campaign, said Tom Sutton, a political scientist with Baldwin Wallace University.

That year, Kasich made it through the entire election without acknowledging Democratic nominee Ed FitzGerald, more or less, much less debating him.

"I think DeWine is following the conventional wisdom that says, if you know you're ahead and it looks like you're almost certain to win the primary, you don't offer debates, because it's an opportunity to get one-upped and look bad," Sutton said.

"I think she wants to show how old he is, how he's been in politics for too long, the same kind of messaging she's been talking about throughout the campaign," Sutton added. "I think it's not surprising, and I think if I were advising DeWine, I'd say it's smart to just avoid debates altogether."

In an email, Taylor said DeWine refuses to debate her for "one simple reason: he knows that on that stage under those lights he can't hide from his liberal record." She went on to criticize DeWine for his past positions as a U.S. Senator on gun rights, immigration and judicial appointments during President George W. Bush's administration.

In an email, DeWine campaign spokesman Ryan Stubenrauch said DeWine has shared the stage with Taylor numerous times at Republican events. But those events were not debates.

"We will continue to stand in front of Ohio Republicans, answer their questions and explain Mike DeWine and Jon Husted's vision for Ohio's future," Stubenrauch said.

He did not say whether DeWine will debate Taylor, however.

The Republican Governor's Association, the GOP campaign arm, tried to make hay on Wednesday out of a remark from Bill O'Neill, a former Ohio Supreme Court justice and longshot candidate for governor, during the Democratic gubernatorial debate.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper had a quick retort:

Richard Cordray, a leading Democratic candidate for governor and former Ohio attorney general who lost to DeWine in the 2010 race, also got in on the action.

The primary election is in May.