Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Linda McMahon met for another debate tonight in the Connecticut Senate race. And it was a rough time all around, with both candidates lobbing attacks at the other.
Overall, McMahon was clearly the more aggressive candidate of the night, relentlessly staying on message regarding low taxes and attacks against Blumenthal for not having her private-sector experience. And she clearly had to be on offense, entering the event as the underdog. The TPM Poll Average gives Blumenthal a lead of 51.3%-43.2%.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon’s Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]
Blumenthal’s performance tonight did not immediately appear to contain any clear gaffes — and he got in a few hits, too — so it remains to be seen how McMahon’s aggressive performance will affect things.
One interesting point is that Blumenthal opened by promoting a relatively minimalist economic approach, a contrast to the typical image of Democrats being for big government programs. “The fact of the matter is that our state and our nation are struggling with high unemployment, unacceptably high unemployment, and an approach from Washington that emphasizes too much top-down bailouts that help wall Wall Street and investment banks there, and not enough for Main Street where jobs are created. People create jobs, small businesses create jobs. Government can provide tools, but it also must take away the obstacles.”
McMahon fired back: “I will say, Mr. Blumenthal, I am very glad you have a better notion of how to create jobs this week than you did last week. And you are right. Government does not create jobs. Entrepreneurs create jobs, and take risks.”
McMahon was asked about her recent comments that the local media interpreted as meaning she would consider cutting the minimum wage. The moderator said that he did agree with her that she was not calling for cutting the minimum wage — but, he asked, what was it she was saying?
McMahon’s reply seemed to indicate skepticism about raising the minimum wage in the immediate future and in the current economic climate — a change from last week, when she seemed to indicate she was in favor of raising it. And what’s more, she seamlessly transitioned from this question to talking about renewing all of the Bush tax cuts. “I absolutely do not believe that we should cut the minimum wage. I said we should look – in fact, Mr. Blumenthal and I have the same opinion on this – I said before the minimum wage is increased we should review it,” said McMahon. “And that’s a prudent position for any Senator to take. I think in this economy, we clearly should not be talking about increasing taxes on anyone, we should not be talking about reducing the minimum wage. I think we should look at keeping taxes where they are for everyone…I want to keep that money in the hands of our state and our families and our companies who will create jobs. So, Mr. Blumenthal and I have a very different opinion on creating jobs and raising taxes.”
Blumenthal shot back: “I might say my opponent would have more credibility on the subject of taxes if she had not taken a tax credit last year to create jobs, and then laid off 10 percent of her workforce, and taken home $46 million. And she would have more credit on outsourcing if her company did not buy most of its merchandise in China, and Pakistan, abroad, and if most of her company hats and T-shirts were not made abroad.”
On the Bush tax cuts, Blumenthal repeatedly stressed his theme of renewing them for most people, but allowing them to expire on incomes over $250,000. An example: “Let’s be clear – I am supporting cutting taxes, for extending the tax cuts for the middle class – which I believe is necessary not only for the sake of fairness, but because it would help stimulate our economy. For families making over $250,000, the rates would only be at the Clinton rate of taxation.”
After Blumenthal looked back upon the stronger economic times of the Bill Clinton years, McMahon chimed in again: “Mr. Blumenthal and I absolutely agree that taxes should not be raised on middle income families. There is no disagreement between us, there is no disagreement between Republicans and Democrats. Where we do disagree is on whether taxes should be raised on small businesses…Why on earth would we consider raising taxes on anyone?”
At one point, McMahon was asked whether the programming on World Wrestling Entertainment, where she was CEO until she stepped down to run for Senate, was degrading to women. McMahon said she was proud of the company she had helped to build from the ground up, and again used her familiar line of describing it as a “soap opera.” She also acknowledged that “I think there were times that we pushed the envelope,” but said she was glad that the programming had evolved from a TV-14 rating to a TV-PG rating.
Blumenthal saw an opening. “Throughout my 20-year carer, I have fought to protect children from abuse and neglect, from the dangers of marketing of sex and violence,” he said, also adding: “The people of Connecticut have to ask whose side each of these candidates has been on.”
McMahon stood by WWE programming — and pointed out to Blumenthal that nobody is forced to watch it. “Mr Blumenthal, we do have an option of whether to go to a movie or turn on the television set,” she said, pointing out that people who don’t like WWE don’t have to turn it on in their homes. She also added: “And I think it is insulting to the millions of people who watched WWE to suggest it is less than quality entertainment.”
Later on, McMahon asked Blumenthal how the people could trust him in light of special interest donations to his campaign. “Well you know, Ms. McMahon, you know the people of Connecticut know me. And they have taken the measure, they’ve taken the measure of my character over 20 years, in the fights that I’ve fought and won, the results that I’ve gotten, and the battles I have taken on for their interests. And they know that I have built my life, and spent my life, building the future of families in Connecticut, while you have built your fortune putting profits first.”
When McMahon’s turn came around next, she went straight for the political jugular. “Mr. Blumenthal, I just want to go back and talk a minute about how the people of Connecticut know you,” she said. “They know now that you have a difficult time telling the truth. They know you hard a hard time telling the truth about Vietnam. They know you didn’t tell the truth on several occasions. And then when you apologized about Vietnam, you did not tell the truth on a number of occasions about the status of your draft number and the deferment.”
So what is the overall verdict of this debate? Well, it’s clear that these candidates don’t like each other very much. Beyond that, a lot will depend on how each candidate spins the debate, and further events to come. It’s going to be a long three weeks to Election Day — and a lot more mud is going to be thrown around.
