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Oct 10, 2006 10:48 pm US/Central
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Senate Candidates Clash At Moorhead Debate
Moorhead, Minn. (AP) ―
Candidates for U.S. Senate in Minnesota showed no signs of toning down their arguments Tuesday night, even after one debate spectator asked them what they liked about each other.
Between fielding questions from a horse trainer in Barnesville and a sugar farmer in Ada, Democratic front-runner Amy Klobuchar and Republican Mark Kennedy spent most of the evening ignoring Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald.
At one point Klobuchar chided Kennedy for leaving his "Minnesota nice" in Washington, after Kennedy criticized her for changing her mind on issues. Later, when asked what she liked about Kennedy, Klobuchar said "his predictability." Both said they liked the other's dedication to their families.
Klobuchar, 46, Hennepin County's chief prosecutor, received the loudest ovation from spectators at Concordia College. Polls have shown Klobuchar with a comfortable lead over Kennedy, 49, a three-term congressman.
Moderators focused the debate on two issues, the war in Iraq and transportation. Kennedy said he opposed withdrawing troops from Iraq until "after we're sure the terrorists can't win." Klobuchar criticized Congress for its lack of oversight during the war.
"We need to be tough in the war against terror and we need to be smart," Klobuchar said.
"We need to just win," Kennedy said.
Fitzgerald, from nearby Rothsay, drew laughs from the crowd when he discussed transportation, talking about "potholes so deep they could be named because they're tourist attractions."
Several audience members submitted written questions, including a handful on sugar policy and the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Klobuchar said she wouldn't have voted for CAFTA, as Kennedy did, and Fitzgerald said Congress sold out sugarbeet farmers in the trade bill.
Kennedy pointed out family members in the audience who have helped produce sugarbeets, and said he "takes a back seat to no one in my support for the sugar program." He said sugar prices are higher today because of CAFTA. And he said the top six commodities in the United States have benefited from CAFTA.
In his closing statement, Kennedy criticized Klobuchar for proposals on tax increases and said she "has changed her position on many things, including her cut and run" policy in Iraq.
In her closing, Klobuchar said Kennedy opposed drought relief, which prompted Kennedy to object even though he was out of turn.
"I have to insist I have been a constant supporter of drought relief," he said, over a chorus of boos as the debate ended.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)