WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Dem. Presidential candidates face off in debate

Dem. Presidential candidates face off in debate

(Columbia) May 4, 2003 - One party, nine presidential hopefuls, all made the first of many pitches Saturday night hoping to become the next president of the United States.  The candidates have left, but the issues have not.

Travis Baggett thinks there are two main issues the candidates should be concerned with, "Probably the homeless and children.  That's the two main issues they should be concerned about."

Robin Keith is happy the US could help other countries, but thinks the focus should be at home now, "I'm proud that our country's gone out to help other's in their time of need, but out country's in a crunch."

Mary Taylor, a republican, agrees that domestic issues will be important in this next election, "The bread and butter issues, taxes. Certainly some challenges, but I think Bush will give some attention over the next couple of years."

The debate provided the candidates with their first opportunity to stand side-by-side in a forum to discuss the issues.  The candidates differed on some of the issues.

Starting with the difference over the war with Iraq, Joe Lieberman supported it, "I viewed the war as a war to enforce promises made and never kept"

While Howard Dean went under fire for an anti-war stance, "I don't think the president is as he should be."

But talk of foreign policy quickly changed to answer economic problems here at home. Mosely Braun talked about securing the homefront with jobs, "If we can have job fairs in Iraq, we should be able to have job fairs in South Carolina."

One of the biggest economic questions was, How do we pay for health care?  Dick Gephardt's plan-a tax hike, "The Bush tax cuts have failed. I want to give people a choice."

John Edwards attacked the plan, "Are we going to assume that giving corporations big money will put money into employee pockets?"

Ealier in the debate, Kerry and Dean went head to head over national security.

The debate was the first opportunity for candidates to try and distinguish themselves from each other and from their ultimate opponent, President George W. Bush.

The South Carolina Democratic Primary will be one of the first on February third.

By Megan Hughes

Posted 5:30pm by Andrew Pierrotti