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As the fall election campaign heats up, so do the debates. But your voice should be heard, too. Please join the conversation on the issues that are defining the Nov. 7 general election.| Nov. 5Klobuchar, Kennedy go toe to toe one last time.Nov. 2 Debate flares over war in IraqOct. 29Kennedy takes on Klobuchar over IraqOct. 15On a national stage, Kennedy and Klobuchar traded sharp barbs over the war in Iraq and tax policy.Oct. 10Candidates showed no signs of toning down their arguments, even after a spectator asked them what they liked about each other.Sept. 19Whether it was prescription drugs, Social Security or the deficit, Mark Kennedy and Amy Klobuchar continued drawing distinctions, not just in differences of policy but in honesty and effectiveness.Sept. 1Beautiful day at the State Fair, and several Amy Klobuchar supporters decided it was a great opportunity to taste the pronto pups. But did their boisterous behavior stomp on the debate's ground rules? Mark Kennedy went on the offensive early, saying, "You don't get real change by sending another lawyer/lobbyist to the U.S. Senate. One look at the budget tells you we need at least one CPA." Klobuchar shot back, "I don't know who would want to hire an accountant who took a $200 billion surplus and turned it into a $300 billion deficit."Aug. 1Farmfest was the setting, but who knew Mark Kennedy would toss manure out as a campaign issue? Sure, there were other hot-button topics, such as trade policy and estate tax. Amy Klobuchar said she favors a proposal that would grant exemptions to estates worth up to $5 million, "but not for Paris Hilton." | Nov. 5Pawlenty, Hatch wage final war of the words.Nov. 3Hatch takes heat from two rivals over a temper he displayed in the campaign's stretch run.Oct. 29Hard shots delivered over gas taxes, immigration, sex offendersOct. 5Pawlenty, Hatch and Hutchinson tackled the combustible issue of stem cell research in a debate that featured the campaign's sharpest face-to-face exchanges yet.Sept. 27Locked in a tight race, Pawlenty and Hatch played it safe, leaning on comfortable themes and familiar lines of criticism. Hutchinson again criticized them for ducking the issues.Sept. 14The primary election ballots were still warm, but it wasn't too early to get a glimpse of what's expected to be a hotly contested race to November. Scoring with several one-liners, Peter Hutchinson (IP) said of the state's road: "They suck." Mike Hatch (DFL) said, "I don't plan to raise taxes,'' but rather tackle some of the state's accounting issues. Incumbent Tim Pawlenty likened some of the negative talk to viewing Joe Mauer's batting average as failure 65 percent of the time." | Oct. 28Fine and Lee team up against Ellison's characterOct. 23Lee and Ellison go deep on heir style and policy differences.Oct. 17Candidates stake out out degrees of progressive positions. Fine does not attend.Oct. 17Fine resumes criticism of Ellison's character and the Star Tribune.Sept. 21Candidates answered an array of questions from students, but Michael Cavlan stole much of the show with a warning about military recruiters.Sept. 15There was no letting up as Alan Fine (R) repeated his personal attacks on DFLer Keith Ellison, who tried to focus on the issues of peace, universal health care and economic justice. Tammy Lee (IP) told Fine she wasn't going to "get down in the mud and roll around in it." | Oct. 27Wetterling, Bachmann attack other's abilitiesSept. 22The only tension came when Bachmann and Wetterling jousted over whether there should be a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Bachmann: yes, Wetterling: no.Sept. 21Cordial exhange for the most part on reducing illegal immigration, helping the middle class afford energy and health care and the politics of war.Sept. 18Patty Wetterling, Michele Bachmann and John Binkowski were short on fireworks, but showed their wide differences on major issues, whether it be taxes, Iraq or abortion. | Sept. 15A referendum on Mike Hatch? Jeff Johnson (R) suggested the office has become too abrasive and fosters an antibusiness mindset. Lori Swanson (DFL), the current solicitor general, countered that the office has regularly gone to bat for businesses who allege anti-competitive behavior by their peers. |
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A list of Minnesota political debates. Read and comment about past debates and see times and locations for future debates. Here is your chance to weigh in.
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