The first and perhaps only three-way debate in the U.S. Senate race Tuesday night at the Baltimore Urban League produced sharp exchanges, cheers and jeers from the boisterous audience, but few surprises, as candidates stuck to their campaign scripts and talking points.
They strayed into uncharted territory only rarely, when the two moderators aggressively pressed for answers beyond the standard responses.
Democrat Ben Cardin, the 20-year veteran of Congress, talked and acted like one, and relentlessly tried to draw out Lt. Gov. Michael Steel, the Republican nominee, on the issues. Cardin insists they disagree on so many: Iraq, universal health care, the minimum wage, embryonic stem cell research, prescription drugs.
Steele stuck to his “I?ll be a different sort of senator” program ? “son of a sharecropper?s daughter.” He promised to listen and follow, and listed problems he?d like to solve, rather than solutions he was offering. He attacked Cardin as part of the Washington crowd who should “shut up and listen,” a swipe Cardin backers booed loudly.
Kevin Zeese, the anti-war organizer nominated by the Green, Libertarian and Populist parties, was the most aggressively anti-establishment, decrying “wars of aggression,” Israel and the “special interests that dominate our country.” Support for radical positions is standard: immediate withdrawal from Iraq; single-payer health insurance; free college for all; and no tax on the first $100,000 in pay.
Even Steele?s concession under persistent questioning that “it?s not going well” in Iraq, “but this is not the time to step back, to draw down” was not new, even if he seldom brings up the war.
The spin by the candidate?s camps was predictably on theme. Cardin spokesman Oren Shur said: “Aside from reiterating his support for Bush?s management of the war in Iraq, Steele simply ducked every issue. It takes real talent to talk for two hours and say absolutely nothing.”
Steele campaign manager Michael Leavitt said Cardin “spewed more angry, partisan political attacks” while Steele “presented a clear vision for changing business as usual in Washington.” Steele slammed Cardin for ignoring Zeese, but Leavitt?s five-page release after the debate targeted Cardin?s past votes and made no mention of Zeese.
What Steele?s “clear vision” is was left to the imagination, as he was the only candidate who didn?t talk to reporters after the debate.
