Depending on wi-fi and other tech issues, I'm going to attempt to live blog this debate, taking place at the Annandale campus of the Northern Virginia Community College. We'll see how it goes. By the way, that photo is of the three amigos mugging for the camera at the Arlington JJ dinner Friday night. Do these guys like each other or WHAT?!? Ha. ;)UPDATE 1:27 pm: I'm at NOVA Community College, up in the balcony with old and new media alike, waiting for the debate to begin. So far, no fireworks...but waiting for Brian Moran to arrive! :)
UPDATE 1:34 pm: While we're all waiting for the debate to begin, here's some reading you might want to check out by Virginia Beach Progressives entitled, "To Brian Moran: It’s time refocus and cut the crap."
UPDATE 1:57 pm: Candidates are on stage, interesting how Creigh's always in the middle between Brian and Terry. Ha.
UPDATE 2:01 pm: No applause allowed. First question from Chris Cillizza on transportation. Deeds - statewide solution for transportation, passenger rail, long term. Don't pit one part of VA against another. McAuliffe - Transportation is a mess. We need to change Richmond to get things done on transportation and create jobs. Moran - Comprehensive approach needed. Smart growth. Rail. Statewide, sustainable, sufficient.
UPDATE 2:06 pm: Cillizza follows up, what would be different than under Tim Kaine? Moran - record of bridging regional divides, partisan debates, etc. McAuliffe - Not all good ideas come out of Richmond. I want to win the House of Delegates with like-minded folks. Big bold ideas, business plan chapter 5 on transportation.
UPDATE 2:08 pm: Any companies too big to fail? McAuliffe - I don't necessarily subscribe to that. Supported stimulus package, but have to be fiscally responsible. How do we create new economic activity? Moran - Grow economy from bottom up, small businesses need to stay open. Brian attacks Terry on creating jobs (that didn't take too long). Deeds - No such thing as a company that's too big to fail. Need to rebuild infrastructure, transportation and education.
UPDATE 2:11 pm: Question on economy, what distinguishes you from others on stage on being Virginia's cheerleader in chief? Deeds - I know state like the back of my hand, I can be the salesman for Virginia. Invest in our people. McAuliffe - I have created 1000's of jobs, good jobs with good benefits and good wages. I have a business plan on my website.
UPDATE 2:14 pm: Moran says we need a governor who puts people first, start kids strong, best paid teachers. Deeds - Invest in education, universal pre-K. McAuliffe - Shut down payday lending, they are a disgrace. Need financial education. Financial literacy needs to be taught early. Better public private partnerships.
UPDATE 2:16 pm: Overall, I've got to say I'm not terribly impressed with the questions or how the candidates are being informed about the time they've got left. Terry just had to pretty much tell them to move up the guys with the cards. Lame.
UPDATE 2:19 pm: Moran says he has kinship with people who attend community colleges. Collaborate with community colleges and businesses.
UPDATE 2:20 pm: Question from Chris Cillizza on gay adoption. Deeds - What's in best interest of child? I have no problem with child being adopted by two loving parents, tradition or same sex. Moran - Significant difference between the three of us, repeal of Marshall-Newman amendment. Nobody should be discriminated against in the constitution. I will not rest until we repeal Marshall-Newman. Loving parents who want to adopt should be able to do so. McAuliffe - Best interest of child. I've been long time advocate for civil unions. Full contractual rights. I'm not for discrimination at all. I'm going to fight for quality of life issues, fix economic problems.
UPDATE 2:23 pm: Moran - Big bold claims from Terry but there are contradictions. Marshall-Newman, you can't have it both ways, it bans civil unions. McAuliffe - I have argued all my life for civil unions, full contractual rights. People don't want divisive politics. I have laid out detailed plans. Deeds - You only get one 4-year term as governor, you need a plan on how best to use your time. Preciously short period of time. Next governor has to focus on restoring confidence in economy.
UPDATE 2:25 pm: McAuliffe - We need mandatory Renewable Energy Standard. I won't take check from Dominion Power. Why should Dominion continue to get rate hikes every time, but we're not putting wind farms off Virginia Beach? We've got to shake up Richmond with big, bold ideas. Deeds - Utilities are regulated monopolies. Claims Terry has taken money from Dominion exec. Future is renewable energy. Moran - fight for equality for all Virginians. Decoupling of Dominion. Claims to be the only one who opposes offshore drilling.
UPDATE 2:29 pm: McAuliffe - Very clear, I wouldn't take a check from Dominion. Employees know I won't take a check from their employees. I'm very clear on mandatory RPS. Need to create sustainable jobs for future. Deeds - We have to talk to those people, but it's disingenuous to say he won't take money from Dominion Power when he takes money from Dominion executives. McCauliffe - he didn't write a check. No time for response from Moran? Weird. [Note: it wasn't a "fundraiser," it was a meet and greet]
UPDATE 2:31 pm: Question on immigration. Moran - I share a wonderful immigrant story. Protect us from illegal immigration, embrace those who are here trying to make a living. McAuliffe - It's a federal issue, Obama has committed to immigration reform. Local police shouldn't be doing responsibility of ICE. Public safety is top concern. Pathway to citizenship. Pay fair share of taxes, don't take advantage of system. Deeds - People who are here should be here legally. Anyone who breaks the law should be punished. But, let's face it, we've had liberal immigration policies, state's role is limited, this is primarily a federal issue.
UPDATE 2:34 pm: Followup on Prince William County's handling of immigration. Moran - Spending resources on illegal immigration is taking money out of the school system, home foreclosure. McAuliffe - We need to set an atmosphere that we are inviting jobs in from all over the world. Everyone here needs to pay their taxes.
UPDATE 2:36 pm: Offshore drilling question. Deeds - energy independence is a matter of nat. security, nothing should be taken off table including offshore drilling. McAuliffe - I've been consistent, no oil drilling and limited exploration for natural gas, this is something that was signed by Kaine and supported by Brian Moran. We need to move towards renewables. We need a mandatory RPS. If we don't get serious, we'll lose clean tech jobs to other states. Moran - I was first to come out with 25% mandatory RPS. Economy, environment, energy. Oppose offshore drilling. Can't distinguish between drilling for oil and gas. US Navy opposes offshore drilling. Tourism. We can put offshore windmills.
UPDATE 2:40 pm: Moran - offshore drilling isn't happening tomorrow, we need to decouple, put in smart meters. Leadership is not going along with the flow. Deeds - We can do offshore drilling, protect navy, fishing, tourism, etc. We can't take anything off the table. McAuliffe - Our future is going to be tied to alternatives, that's why LCV endorsed me.
UPDATE 2;42 pm: Moran questions McAuliffe about his record of job creation, says he's made untrue claims on his jobs created, businesses, Global Crossing. McAuliffe - Very few things you've said that are true, this is the divisive stuff that people are sick of. I can do the math for you. People are saying, "what are you going to do for me," tired of this personal destructiveness. I've been fighting for years against George W. Bush, I've been out there, created great paying jobs, I'll let my record stand there. The divisive politics of trying to tear people down...those days should be over, too many people here in VA are hurting. I want to create jobs. McAuliffe asks Moran about predatory lending, why did you vote to bring predatory lending here to Virginia, Gov. Kaine now says it was a big mistake. You voted to kill legislation that would have done a study on this, you took money from payday lending. Moran - I don't have time to teach you the legislative process of Virginia. I have 20-year record of fighting for Virginians. This isn't politics of division, this is the politics of record. One of the three of us must be next governor of Virginia. I've been in the trenches each and every day. McAuliffe - "Payday lending?"
UPDATE 2:48 pm: Deeds asks McAuliffe if he can keep all his promises. McAuliffe - thanks for the opportunity to answer that question; we need to deal with all these problems, we're not doing it, we need to grow our economy. You don't know if a deal makes sense unless you're in a room negotiating. I want to be #1 here in Virginia, John Kennedy didn't say we're taking a rocket halfway to the moon, he said we're going all the way to the moon.
UPDATE 2:51 pm: Closing statements. McAuliffe - we need fundamental change in Richmond, I've got big bold ideas, I think positive, I got our party out of bankruptcy for first time in history, we need to generate more revenue. Passionate about alternative energy. I'll accept money if you will work with me on these things. Any one of us will be better than Bob McDonnell. If you want someone to shake it up, has a business background, hasn't been part of partisan battles in Richmond, I will fight for you every day. Moran - Thanks for opportunity to air honest differences between the three of us. I've served with four governors, been in the trenches. Must have ability and experience to get things done, vision, courage. Best candidate to serve the people. I've fought for workers, bridged regional divides, we can together reach a better, brighter future. Green energy. Transportation system that works. Health care for every child. Educational excellence. Equality for all Virginians. Clear choice, who can be trusted to accomplish goals we believe in. Stakes are too high to get this wrong. Deeds - Thanks everyone. Middle class families don't stand chance with Bob McDonnell in governor's mansion. He's clearly outside the mainstream. He's proud that he's stood in the way of progress under Warner and Kaine. I stood with Warner and Kaine. Who's going to stand up for working Virginians. Don't want nominee who gets 80% of campaign contributions from out of state, stands with lobbyists under FBI investigation. I have best perspective on middle class families. Education first. Smart investments in transportation. A governor on your side every single day.
UPDATE 2:59 pm: I though the debate would have been more combative than it was. Overall, I thought Terry did great, Ben says he decisively won and I'm not arguing with that. It felt rushed, moderators didn't do a great job, probably should have been 1 1/2 hours. More later...
