Richmond, VA - As the campaign enters its final weeks, Virginians got a good look at the two candidates last night and the concensus is clear - Tim Kaine offered a forward looking approach and specific strategies to solve the economic and fiscal challenges the nation faces. In contrast, George Allen continued the partisan attacks that gridlock Washington and dodged questions on basic issues like health care, sequestration, and why re-electing him would mean anything different than his last six year term that included sky high deficit spending and trillions in new debt.
Kaine Comes Out On Top Of Last Night's Debate
Associated Press: Throughout the night, Kaine was loose and relaxed in contrast to Allen’s, slower, practiced performance. At times, he launched into attacks on Kaine only to have them boomerang on him.
WSLS: ANCHOR: We asked WSLS political analyst Dr. Bob Denton, who also was a panelist, about who he thought won. DENTON: Well you know both of them seemed to really be at the top of their game. I think this was more interaction and interactivity than we’ve seen before. I think they both did what they had to do, but of course I think Tim Kaine seems to be more at ease when he – and more on the offense than on the defense.
WDBJ: We asked people who won tonight's debate. By far people we spoke with said Tim Kaine, even George Allen supporters gave Kaine the win.
Collegiate Times: Thomas May, a senior mathematics major, felt that both candidates fared well during the debate, though Kaine had the better performance.
Washington Examiner: Less than three weeks from Election Day, Kaine used the showdown at Virginia Tech to appeal to moderates tired of a gridlocked Washington, while Allen tossed red meat to his conservative base by linking his Democratic rival to the Obama administration.
Kaine Offers Clear Solutions To Help Middle Class, Seniors, Military, Business While Allen Dodges & Can't Answer For Fiscally Reckless Record
Richmond Times Dispatch: Kaine hammered Allen for being part of a Congress that ballooned the deficit by failing to pay for tax cuts, two wars and a new entitlement program, Medicare Part D.
Richmond Times Dispatch: Kaine — along with most Republicans, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Gov. Bob McDonnell — supported the debt deal between Congress and the president…Kaine again Thursday night presented his proposal to avert the cuts by allowing Bush-era tax cuts for households earning more than $500,000 a year to expire, adjusting Medicare to allow negotiation for prescription drug prices and eliminating subsidies for the big five oil companies.
Roanoke Times: Kaine touted his plan to allow the George W. Bush-era tax cuts to expire on income greater than $500,000, reform Medicare prescription drug pricing, end subsidies to big oil companies and cut spending to reduce the deficit. Kaine said both parties will have to give ground to tackle the deficit and avert a fiscal cliff that would trigger $1.2 trillion in automatic federal spending cuts over the next decade — half of them to defense. "We can avoid these defense cuts, but we'll only avoid them with a compromise," Kaine said.
WSET: Allen sang the same song he has been since the campaign began accusing Kaine of voting in favor of thousands of dollars in cuts to defense spending. "I could never imagine myself voting for something that could be so potentially harmful to our military readiness and jobs in Virginia," said Allen. And on a personal note that he rarely shares, this time Kaine, fired back. "I have a son who has just started a career in the military. I'm not going to do things that will hurt the troops or will hurt defense," said Kaine.
Washington Post: To avoid the spending reductions, Kaine trumpeted his plan to let the Bush era tax cuts expire only on income of more than $500,000 — above the $250,000 proposed by the president. “Folks, the time for the show votes and the no-compromise positions is over,” Kaine told the audience.
WSLS: Kaine noted both Medicare and Social Security are critically important. He said the Medicare budget is growing partially for the good reason that people are living longer. However, Kaine added that the government needs to get costs under control. Kaine proposed allowing the government to negotiate rates for prescription drug prices. He argues this will save about $250 billion over ten years. Kaine argued that Congress failed to include that provision while Allen was in the Senate for Medicare Part D.
WSLS: In the part of the debate where the candidates got the chance to ask the other a question, Kaine asked Allen if he would finally agree that privatizing Social Security was a bad idea. Allen stated that in addition to his age and income adjustment proposals, he would be looking for new options for people to provide for themselves in their retirement years. Kaine countered that he believes Allen still agrees with supporting the privatization of Social Security. Kaine said he would fight against that proposal.
WSLS: On foreign policy, Kaine noted that U.S. military and Virginia National Guard forces don't have to deploy as often for the war on terror, thanks to past successes against Al-Qaeda and other terror linked groups. Kaine then attacked the House budget proposal which cut money for embassy security, and linked it to Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee.
While Kaine Talks Work Across the Aisle, Allen's Partisan Attacks "Boomerang"
Washington Examiner: Less than three weeks from Election Day, Kaine used the showdown at Virginia Tech to appeal to moderates tired of a gridlocked Washington, while Allen tossed red meat to his conservative base by linking his Democratic rival to the Obama administration.
Associated Press: Throughout the night, Kaine was loose and relaxed in contrast to Allen’s, slower, practiced performance. At times, he launched into attacks on Kaine only to have them boomerang on him.
Washington Times: Mr. Kaine, though, pointed to one of the least likely allies for a Democrat — former President George W. Bush — as evidence to the contrary. "I do not think it is anti-Virginia to support the president of the United States," said Mr. Kaine, noting that he worked with Mr. Bush on the Rail-to-Dulles project in Northern Virginia and in the aftermath of the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy.
Washington Post: On Thursday night, Kaine also criticized Allen’s performance as senator, and suggested he was more interested in touting his record as governor than his time on Capitol Hill. “George’s record when he was a United States senator was one of fiscal irresponsibility and harsh partisanship,” Kaine said.
CBS News: Kaine turned the tables on Allen for supporting President George W. Bush "96 percent of the time." Allen served one-term in the Senate from 2001 until 2007 but was beat by Democrat Jim Webb -- who is retiring after one term -- by less than 10,000 votes after being caught on camera calling a Democratic operative "macaca", which is considered a racial slur.
Richmond Times Dispatch: As the debate moved toward fiscal issues, Kaine offered withering criticism of Allen's term in the Senate, calling his record one of "fiscal irresponsibility and harsh partisanship."
Associated Press: But Kaine replied that Allen neglected to note the two years he spent during his previous Senate term, from 2001 to 2007, as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He also chastised Allen for suggesting that Kaine was betraying Virginia by his close relationship with and support for Obama.
Roanoke Times: Kaine said Allen's opposition to last year's debt limit deal put the Republican outside the mainstream of his own party at a time when the country was teetering on the brink of default. "We were trying to avoid a fiscal collapse, but George Allen and a few people stood outside and shook their fist and said, 'We don't want to compromise,'" Kaine said.
Free Lance Star: Kaine said Allen ignores his own role as chairman of the National Senatorial Campaign Committee while governor, and that Allen was lucky to be governor in flush times, whereas Kaine was governor when the recession hit. “Virginians care about results, and in the toughest times since the 1930s, we got results especially in 2009,” Kaine said.
###