INDIANAPOLIS — The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate who will visit Ball State today said during a televised debate that maintaining credibility and owning up to what he believes in sets him apart from opponents.
Rep. Brad Ellsworth, the former Vanderburg County sheriff and current congressman, made his case by highlighting Republican candidate Dan Coats' history as a politician, lobbyist and recipient of special interest funding.
"He's taken more in special interest contributions overall than I have," he said. "Coats didn't ... fix health care in his 18 years in office. It'll be fixed. ... Everything I've said is a result of his documentation, not mine."
Besides throwing a couple of jabs at his opponent, Ellsworth was also gutsy in saying what he supports — Obama's health care plan, building on the No Child Left Behind Act, open discussion between pro-life and pro-choice supporters, and putting an end to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Coats presented more conservative views, while Libertarian candidate Rebecca Sink-Burris said she was the only candidate to represent a real change in government.
Few of the questions submitted by Hoosiers were addressed during the debate, which was hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission. Coats even sacrificed the opportunity to speak on unemployment costs so he could respond to accusations by Ellsworth about neglecting to fix the health care issue while he was in office.
"I regret the campaigns have to be turned to personal accusations," Coats said. "I guess I have to say I don't know where Congressman Ellsworth is coming from."
And the sentiment continued through the night.
Did Coats feel like he was playing defense? He told reporters "no" during a question-and-answer period following the debate.
"I just wish we had more time to talk about the issues," he said.
Coats said he would organize the debates with more emphasis on the economy and foreign policy, issues he has fought for during his time in Congress, if he could.
Sink-Burris provided some reprieve from the sparring.
"Luckily with Libertarians, you have people talking about issues," she said during the question-and-answer period.
If there's one party she's leaning toward, it's the Republicans. She's trying to appeal to the tea party, saying the margin of support favoring Coats is wide enough that people who vote for her shouldn't be afraid they're closing the gap.
"The tea party is right in line with Libertarians with activism," she said.
Fixing unemployment and limiting big government spending seemed to be one issue all the candidates could all agree on.
"We need to create an atmosphere that allows businesses to create jobs," Ellsworth said. "One think we have to do is cut the red tape. We have to stop cutting the loopholes that allow countries to put jobs overseas."
Coats said the solution is a reduction in spending.
"The stimulus didn't stimulate," he said. "To get Americans back to work, big government needs to stop."
The "moderator's privilege" portion represented the overall sentiment of the debate: Ellsworth vs. Coats with comment from a third party.
Mizell Stewart III, editor of the Evansville Courier & Press and moderator for the debate, asked Coats what Ellsworth has said about him that's incorrect.
"He has mischaracterized what I have done," Coats said.
Ellsworth was asked the same question. In response, he restated his previous comments about Coats' record.
Finally, the moderater asked Sink-Burris what she wanted to add.
"I'm not holding to any special interests," she said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
