2014 Senate Debates Discussion Thread

[Miles]

As the 2014 campaign season kicks into full general election mode, many debates are around the corner. This thread is for analysis, discussion, impressions, etc. of the Senate debates!

The first general election debate in high-profile race will be tomorrow (today) in North Carolina.

[RogueBeaver]

I don't think the needle moved in NC.

There will be a Colorado debate sponsored by the Denver Post Saturday.

[Senator Cris]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

[dmmidmi]

Terri Lynn Land won't debate Gary Peters: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/09/debates_in_senate_governors_ra.html#incart_related_stories

So, that's that.

[NHLiberal]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

Hagan, if anyone, but it seemed to be a draw

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/03/5148232/checking-the-claims-and-counter.html

[Miles]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

Both candidates stuck to the script.

Neither of them had any big gaffes and the debate was full of the slogans that both campaigns have been pushing.

Tillis may have irked some social conservatives by saying he'd favor expanded access to birth control. 'Very different from the primary when he said states should be able to ban contraception; he reportedly would have also supported a personhood bill in the NCGA. Hagan's camaign pretty much controls the subject of women's issues on the campaign; I'm not sure its wise for Tillis to try to debate Hagan on her issues.

Tillis keeps throwing out his "7%" raise for teachers. On average, yes, its 7%, but more experienced teachers, like my mom for example, got a much lesser raise. Hagan called him out on that, but I guess if you're explaining, you're losing.

Tillis also had a few blatant pivots. On the minimum wage, for example, he was asked specifically if "$7.25 is enough." He dodged it and thew out "American Dream" platitudes instead and attacked Obama. Hagan basically answered for him after his answer "Well, you obviously think $7.25 is enough..."

On immigration, he was asked about his plan, but mostly just attacked Obama and Hagan on amnesty.

I would have liked Hagan to have been more specific at some points. She mentioned the bipartisan legislation she worked on with Jim Inhofe to end the sequester, which was good. Hagan also told a few stories of how she met with and personally worked with constituents, which I thought was also effective.

Overall, I have a feeling almost all those watching this debate already had their minds made up.

[Senate Minority Leader Lord Voldemort]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

Overall, I have a feeling almost all those watching this debate already had their minds made up.

This.

Anyone who watches debates on CSPAN is already politically minded and would have already made up their minds.

[Miles]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

FWIW:

[GaussLaw]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

FWIW:

How was viewership for this debate?  What percent of LVs watched it?

I have Hagan as the slight favorite, and this probably helps her on the margin.  Tillis's unfavorables are very, very high and that is a tough barrier to overcome.

[RogueBeaver]

CO is 1830 MT tomorrow. Dunno if it'll be livestreamed.

[RogueBeaver]

CO debate tonight won't be livestreamed or broadcast. Denver Post one Oct. 7 will be.

[Senator Cris]

Roberts and Orman are debating in Kansas.

Link --> http://ksn.com/video/

[Flake]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Maxwell]

Hagan did a little better, but really it was a kind of a wash. I can't imagine North Carolina voters being at all excited for either candidate.

[Dixie Reborn]

Who has won the Debate? Hagan or Tillis?

FWIW:

How was viewership for this debate?  What percent of LVs watched it?

I have Hagan as the slight favorite, and this probably helps her on the margin.  Tillis's unfavorables are very, very high and that is a tough barrier to overcome.

Also lots of Tea Party diehards won't be willing to turn out for Tillis. Leans Democrat.

[RogueBeaver]

Bartels reviews the Colorado debate. Seems like a draw from what I saw on Twitter, FWIW.

[Maxwell]

Orman doesn't do too badly, but Roberts was very aggressive, and out did expectations. This will probably boost his numbers.

[Miles]

How was viewership for this debate?  What percent of LVs watched it?

I have Hagan as the slight favorite, and this probably helps her on the margin.  Tillis's unfavorables are very, very high and that is a tough barrier to overcome.

FWIW, I told my parents to watch it and they couldn't even find it. They just have basic cable, but I'd still expect something like that to be pretty widely accessible.

This guy is pretty cynical, but I agree with many of his frustrations about the talking point-ish mood that prevailed at the debate:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Senator Cris]

Thom Tillis @ThomTillis  ·  2 h
Today I sent @KayHagan a letter asking her to reconsider participating in the TWC News/N&O/Observer debate. #ncsen #ncpol

Thom Tillis @ThomTillis  ·  15 h
Disappointing that @KayHagan is declining to participate in the TWC News/N&O/Observer debate. #ncsen #ncpol

[Miles]

^ Too bad Landrieu isn't being that vocal in criticizing Cassidy. Maness and Landrieu have agreed to four debates; Cassidy has only accepted one.

[Gass3268]

Unless something on Murdock's level comes out, Senate debates rarely matter.

[Ogre Mage]

Terri Lynn Land won't debate Gary Peters: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/09/debates_in_senate_governors_ra.html#incart_related_stories

So, that's that.

Land's refusal to debate strikes me as strange for conventional wisdom holds that the candidate who is trailing prefers to have more debates in the hope that something will happen to shake things up. 

[dmmidmi]

Terri Lynn Land won't debate Gary Peters: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/09/debates_in_senate_governors_ra.html#incart_related_stories

So, that's that.

Land's refusal to debate strikes me as strange for conventional wisdom holds that the candidate who is trailing prefers to have more debates in the hope that something will happen to shake things up. 

The last time she had to give answers on the spot without a script, things didn't go so well.

[Senator Cris]

Mark Udall Is The First Candidate In History To Decline CBS Denver Debate (Please watch from minute 2.00 to 2.40)

[Miles]

The consensus for the second debate was that Hagan won.

Even the freakin Washington Examiner threw in the towel on Tillis:



The third debate, Thursday, will also have Haugh. To say the least, I'm interested to see how he fits in.