Republican Senate candidate Joe DioGuardi tried to erase his double-digit poll deficit last night in a debate against US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, portraying her as a puppet of President Obama who is “jeopardizing the American dream.”
The former congressman said his Democratic opponent’s yes votes on issues like health care and the stimulus has put the country’s future at risk.
“Sen. Gillibrand is jeopardizing the American dream. She failed to halt the rising cost of health care; she’s creating uncertainty with the tax code; and she’s promoting oppressive regulation on the business community,” he said during the NY1-sponsored debate.
Gillibrand sought to highlight her record — like being the first Congress member to post spending projects online — but did come out swinging at times.
DISPATCHES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
“He supports the same failed trickle-down economics of the Bush administration. He wants to privatize Social Security. He doesn’t support a women’s right to chose or women’s rights,” she said. “And he’s someone who wants to give tax breaks to the top 2 percent of wealthy Americans.”
When asked if former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi should go to jail, DioGuardi said yes, while Gillibrand punted, saying it’s the prosecutor’s decision. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo prosecuted the case, but a judge has final say on the sentence.
They disagreed on a number of other issues, like the “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” policy on gays in the military. Gillibrand wants an immediate repeal, while DioGuardi said the impact of lifting the regulation should be further studied.
When asked if they wanted the UFT to release teachers’ performance grades, DioGuardi supported it; Gillibrand was opposed.