Hagan, Tillis battle on air in NC Senate debate
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (WTVD) -- Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican rival Thom Tillis debated everything from the spread of the Ebola virus to the Supreme Court's decision to decline considering gay marriage cases during their second head-to-head encounter Tuesday night moderated by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The debate kicked off with both candidates coming out swinging, each trying to define themselves and their opponent in what could be seen as the opening salvo of the closing arguments of their campaigns.
Sen. Kay Hagan tried to tar House Speaker Thom Tillis' record in Raleigh, what he himself refers to as a "conservative revolution."
"Folks, he is campaigning on a promise to take that destructive agenda to Washington," Hagan said of her opponent.
Tillis, on the other hand, tried to paint Hagan as a do-nothing politician, in lock-step with President Barack Obama.
"Senator Hagan has voted with President Obama 96 percent of the time," said Tillis.
Those two themes would play out all night, as the candidates sparred on a wide range of issues, both domestic -- education, health care, gay marriage, equal pay, Ebola -- and foreign. A big question centered on how the U.S. should respond to the ISIS terrorist threat.
"He is spineless on what he would do to take ISIS out," Hagan said of Tillis.
"Sen. Hagan, for the last year," Tillis countered, "has failed to show up to more than half of foreign services committee meetings to get an update."
Neither candidate gave an inch, questioning each other's track records and sticking to familiar talking points.
"I'm not on the Foreign Affairs Committee," Hagan quipped. "I'm on the Armed Services Committee."
In post-debate interviews, the candidates continued their attacks, more often knocking their opponent than promoting themselves.
"He's killing the middle class," Hagan said. "He's gutted education. He killed an equal pay bill, and he doesn't support raising the minimum wage."
"She has been a rubber stamp for President Obama," said Tillis.
Libertarian Sean Haugh will participate with Hagan and Tillis in his first and likely only general election debate Thursday night at the WECT-TV studios in Wilmington. It's scheduled to be the last televised joint appearance by the candidates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
