Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Fireworks at Jennings-Buchanan Debate

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By ZAC ANDERSON

Democratic challenger Christine Jennings continued to strongly criticize Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan in a tense Congressional District 13 debate Wednesday that became so heated the moderator at one point called on security.

Trailing in the polls according to most political handicappers, Jennings was on the attack throughout the debate while Buchanan largely declined to strike back.

When asked about the economy, Jennings said Buchanan was "playing politics" by voting against the first bailout package.

When asked about energy, Jennings said Buchanan has a low rating from the League of Conservation voters.

On Iraq she favors bringing the troops home as soon as possible and said Buchanan was too closely in line with President Bush.

Buchanan defended his bailout votes, saying the second package that he supported was a better deal for taxpayers.

On energy he called for all options to be considered.

On Iraq he said, "I do believe we're going to reduce the troops. We're not going to telegraph that time table."

The biggest fireworks of the night came when moderator and University of South Florida Institute for Public Policy and Leadership Director David Klement asked a question about the negative campaign advertisements Buchanan and Jennings have been running against each other.

Jennings defended her ads, which have focused on lawsuits filed against Buchanan and his businesses by his former employees.

"It is your job when you're running for office to draw a contrast between you and the person you're running against," she said. "There's nothing wrong when you state facts."

Buchanan said nothing about his ads, which focus on Jennings' past tax problems, and defended himself against the Democrat's ads.

"These are false and negative attacks," Buchanan said. "This is the type of politics and why people hate Washington, because of the nonsense that goes on like this."

Buchanan's supporters applauded.

Jennings then asked for a rebuttal and when she did not get it her supporters began to boo and Klement said he would call security if it continued.

At times the debate appeared like two or three against one, with candidate Don Baldauf, a Republican running under no party affiliation, criticizing Jennings, and Jan Schneider, a Democrat running under no party affiliation, offering indirect criticism.

Schneider received one of the largest rounds of applause. "People who engage in mudslinging, it demeans (them) much more than their targets," Schneider said.

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