Blackburn, Bredesen Spar in the first debate



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Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Phil Bredesen clashed Tuesday night at the first campaign debate to take over US Senator Bob Corker, a two-term Republican.

Blackburn, a congressman from Brentwood, has repeatedly sought to link Bredesen, former governor and mayor of Nashville, to national democrats. She mentioned the Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, who she said "bought and paid" Bredesen more than half a dozen times.

Bredesen, meanwhile, downplayed his democratic relations during the campaign as he pledged to become the first Tennessee Democrat elected to the US Senate since Al Gore in 1990. Asked about the most urgent issue of the has become. "

Blackburn began the debate by saying that the economy and jobs were the most pressing issues facing the Tennesseans. The bill on republican tax reform, she said, works. Bredesen replied that tax reform was a good idea, but that the law only reduced taxes without reducing spending.

"What's needed to keep things under control is not just talking about it, but being ready to work hard," he said.

Although Blackburn admitted that she did not agree with President Donald Trump on tariffs and expenses, she declared that he was successful in foreign policy and "drained the marsh". ".

"I am not a fan of tariffs and I have never been, but China has had a trade war for decades," she said. "If we are in a trade war, for reasons of good

On health care, Bredesen said he was supportive of the Medicaid expansion and added that the "sabotage" led by Republicans against the Affordable Care Act was "unreasonable", "cruel" and "meaningless". job."

With US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused him of sexual assault in high school, Bredesen and Blackburn said Ford should be heard, but Blackburn said that she would vote to confirm Kavanaugh. independently.

"What we see happening right now is a publicity stunt from the Democrats," she said. "It's about the assassination of a character, … from the political dirty to the worst".

Asked about gun control and shootings in schools, Bredesen proposed a number of "sensible" measures, including a background check on firearms buyers and increased surveillance of buyers with a history of illness. mental. Blackburn extolled his support of the National Rifle Association and said, "Putting gun control in place is not going to be something that makes our communities safer."

The forum, held at Cumberland University in Lebanon, was the first of two scheduled debates between Blackburn and Bredesen. The candidates will meet again next month in Knoxville, even though Bredesen has asked for two more forums.

"People will definitely have a choice," Bredesen said in his closing remarks.

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