Wrap-up of Debate for U.S. Senate Seat in South Carolina
By CraigLinton Posted in Miscellanea — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
On Tuesday, U.S. Senate candidates Jim DeMint and Inez Tenenbaum debated each other at WYFF studios in Greenville, South Carolina.
Did Red-State-endorsed DeMint win this debate, or did he put his foot in his mouth? Read on for a media round-up and analysis of the event.
WYFF (The Carolina Channel) hosted the event and has posted several video segments of the event on its website. (No transcript of the debate is available.): Tax plans, trade policies, DeMint's comment about gay teachers, wage growth, health care and prescription drugs, and both candidates' closing statements.
The Greenville News has a good report on the debate:
Squaring off for the second time this month, South Carolina's candidates for U.S. Senate on Tuesday night presented a serene picture to viewers a contrast to the fiery first debate.
An unrelated article in the Greenville News reported jobs have been returning to the Upstate (Greenville area). While Tenenbaum complains about the loss of jobs in South Carolina, DeMint talks about job creation. This is good news for the DeMint campaign.
One humorous exchange happened during the debate. The State (Columbia) reports, in it's highlights article:
Best request for a clarification
During the debate, Associated Press reporter Jennifer Holland seemed to ask DeMint whether he would support classifying “a tax” on gay men and women as hate crimes.
DeMint looked at Holland, paused and then asked her to repeat the question. Holland then made it clear she had asked whether DeMint would support classifying “attacks” on gay men and women as hate crimes.
(In his defense: The congressman wasn’t the only one confused.)
Those of us who had understood the question were a little befuddled. One thing's for sure: DeMint always has taxes on his mind.
The State's Lee Bandy said that DeMint succeeded in his three key points for the debate. Tenenbaum, however, failed to win her three key points. From The State:
Jim DeMint
1. Give convincing reasons why voters should send him, rather than Inez Tenenbaum, to the U.S. Senate.
DeMint demonstrated his grasp of federal issues and how Congress works. [...]
2. Change the subject.
DeMint succeeded. [...]
3. Take on the role of the aggressor.
[...] DeMint was steady and confident. [...]
Inez Tenenbaum
1. Keep DeMint on the ropes.
Tenenbaum let DeMint get back on his message, a huge plus for the Republican congressman. [...]
2. Convince skeptics she is up to serving in the U.S. Senate.
Tenenbaum was able to talk about a wide range of issues, but lacked the depth and knowledge DeMint demonstrated. [...]
3. Assure voters she is not the liberal DeMint suggests she is.
Tenenbaum lost that argument when DeMint got her to tell a statewide audience she will support John Kerry over George Bush and vote for U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., for Senate majority leader over U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn. [...]
From The State's assessment, the debate was a knock out punch by DeMint. Although it wasn't mentioned in any articles, DeMint got Tenenbaum to admit that she supported John Kerry for president. In a red state such as South Carolina, that comment doesn't win any votes. Tenenbaum walks the fine line of supporting Kerry for president, but keeping her distance from the Kerry campaign.
Another article from The State notes DeMint's tactical question to point out Tenenbaum's ties to liberal Democrats:
DeMint also worked to underline Tenenbaum’s ties to the national Democratic Party. He asked Tenenbaum whether she would support U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., or U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., for Senate leader. “What will be your first vote?” DeMint asked.
The question was a masterful success. Tenenbaum bumbled around before saying that the Senate race is "not about Tom Daschle." Oh, but to many it is! Of course, Daschle has a tough campaign of his own to win this November...
The State also takes a "he said/she said" look at Tuesday's debate. Though it tries to point out flaws in both candidates' arguments, the article lacks the depth necessary to address the issues raiser by either candidate.
In total, this debate looks like a boost for the DeMint campaign. If DeMint lost ground after the first debate, he made it up in this debate.
Next debate: Meet the Press this Sunday at 9 a.m. ET.
Here. I, too, give great credit to DeMint's line of inquiry.