Bachmann, Clark throw sharper jabs in second debate

Updated at 1:50 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann met with challengers Tarryl Clark and Bob Anderson on MPR this afternoon for a 30-minute discussion that took a more heated tone than their last meeting in St. Cloud.

The three candidates sparred over tax cuts, job creation, bailouts and health care. Bachmann and Clark spent most of the discussion talking over each other about their past votes and alleged misinformation.

Clark said she would have voted against the bailouts because “Wall Street got bailed out and main street didn’t.”

She added: “As we’re moving forward I think the bigger question right now is [why] Congresswoman Bachmann sided with Wall Street against financial reform.”

Bachmann cut her off, arguing that the bill is “pro-Wall Street” and will have a negative impact on consumers. “She’s continuing to go on and make false statements and claims.”

When Clark said the bill would end bailouts, Bachmann rebutted that it would make them “permanent.” “You really misunderstand this bill,” Bachmann said.

Clark jabbed at Bachmann for opposing a bill that funds health care payments for 9/11 responders.

"There's already funds and there's already money that had been given to them before," Bachmann said. "This was a brand new entitlement fund that has absolutely no transparency, no oversight. It was ripe for fraud."

On job creation, Clark said she doesn’t not support “trickle-down economics” and hit Bachmann for supporting policies that outsource jobs overseas. Bachmann said the Bush tax cuts need to be extended and criticized Clark for voting to raise taxes in the Legislature.

The brief MPR discussion is the second of three debates in the Sixth District race, which is the most expensive House race in the country. The final one will be broadcast live at 10 a.m. Sunday on KSTP, which is likely to last about 20 30 minutes.

Total Sixth District debate time? About two hours.