In a post-debate interview this morning on CNN, Delaware Democratic Senate nominee Chris Coons criticized his Republican opponent Christine O’Donnell for launching personal attacks against him in last night’s meeting. And, he noted, a Republican candidate was criticizing him for coming from a wealthy and successful family.
“As we got farther and farther into the debate, I think she got sharper, more personal, and strayed a little bit farther from the truth in terms of characterizing my record here,” said Coons.
CNN host Kiran Chetry then asked Coons about O’Donnell’s comment — made in defense of her personal financial problems — that she did not have a trust fund like Coons did.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O’Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]
“My family started a business,” Coons said. “My stepfather started a business here in Newark, in the basement with his parents and along with much of my family and hundreds of hard-working Delawareans, that small business grew to be quite successful. And I thought that’s what all of us were gonna try and do, and that’s what I’d like to go and do in Washington, is to fight for America’s small businesses, so that more families can have the experience of being successful, so that more kids can go to college, so that we can grow our way out of this recession, and frankly, I was somewhat surprised to have a Republican attacking me for the success of my family, and for the hard work that we have put into the community.”
The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 56.2%-36.6%.
