For months, Republican U.S. Senate candidates Rob Simmons and Linda McMahon have been locked in a nasty, deeply personal clash marked by blatant attacks, stark differences of opinion and accusations of lies.
On Tuesday, the candidates met in their first debate and some surprising similarities emerged.
In fact, the hourlong forum, which also included money manager and author Peter Schiff, was largely a genteel affair that featured few fireworks and focused instead on the finer points of public policy.
The three GOP contenders found consensus on numerous issues, showing caution by hewing to their party’s core philosophy. Each expressed opposition to a government-run health care plan, and government regulation in general. Each voiced support for lower taxes and efforts that help small businesses grow. And each acknowledged that they had not read the mammoth health care bill passed by the Senate last year.
It was only in the waning moments of the hourlong debate at the University of Hartford that McMahon’s ties to World Wrestling Entertainment — her family business and the subject of much criticism from the Simmons camp — were raised. And it was McMahon herself who brought it up. She suggested one way to end gridlock in Washington would be to set up a ring in the Senate chamber for a “smack down.” The line drew laughs.
Simmons, who has been churning out press releases denouncing both the WWE’s treatment of its wrestlers and the spicy nature of some of its content, avoided the topic. He made a reference to character in his closing statement: “The character of our Republican Party will be conveyed by the nominee that we select. I hope that my character as a public servant will reflect their choice.” He insisted to reporters afterward that it wasn’t a veiled jab at McMahon.
Instead, Simmons took a swipe at Democrat Richard Blumenthal, who said in last night’s Democratic debate that the many lawsuits he has filed through the years have actually helped to spur job growth.
“I would not recommend lawsuits as a way to create jobs,” Simmons said. “What I would recommend is that we go to the fundamental value that all Americans, have which is free enterprise¡Kand in particular that we focus on small business.”
Schiff noted after the debate that many people watching at home might have been surprised to see three candidates in the debate. His candidacy, fueled by passionate and energetic supporters from across the nation, has to some degree been overshadowed by the heat generated by Simmons and McMahon.
But Schiff’s fans were among the loudest in the room, yelling “Peter!” as he took his place on the stage. They have come to know the Weston pundit through his frequent television appearances schooling viewers on monetary policy — and that’s largely what they got Tuesday night.
Schiff sounded like a college professor trying to convey a complex topic to a class full of undergrads, but he also showed a combative side. When asked about ©partisan© gridlock, the other candidates voiced confidence that, if elected, they could work with their Democratic colleagues. Schiff, gesturing with hands to underscore his points, wondered why bipartisanship was viewed as such a virtue.
“A lot of people say we need bipartisanship so we can overcome gridlock,” Schiff said. “Well, I don’t want to overcome gridlock if that’s the only thing standing between us and more government. I want to change what’s happening in Washington. I don’t want to go to Washington to compromise my positions or my principles. I want to try and persuade and educate the other members of Congress to adopt my principles. … We’ve been compromising for years, and look at the mess that we’re in.”
And Schiff ended with a pledge: “If you send me to Washington, I promise you one thing — that town will never be the same again.”
Each of the candidates emphasized their life stories: Schiff spoke of how he predicted the economic meltdown. McMahon talked of her rise from bankruptcy to the head of a multimillion-dollar corporation. Simmons spoke of his many years of public service and his distinguished military career.
The stakes Tuesday night were perhaps highest for McMahon, a newcomer to politics who has indicated she could spend up to $50 million in her quest to win the seat, which is currently held by U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd. She has never debated before, not even in high school or college, and her handlers were clearly pleased with her performance.
In her closing statement, McMahon explained to voters why she is running. “I don’t need a hobby,” she said. “I’m running because I could no longer tolerate the lack of common sense and the lack of fiscal discipline I see in Washington. I wanted to shake things up. I want to offer a fresh perspective. I’m not a career politician.”