Five conclusions of the controversial Heller-Rosen debate in Nevada

Sen. Dean HellerDean Arthur HellerPoll: Dems Lead in Indiana and West Virginia in Senate, tied for Nevada Poll: Majority of voters say health care is "very important" for them Midway The Hill & Morning – Presented by the Coalition for Affordable Medicines – Health Care Has Priority Policy Message in Fall Campaigns MORE (R) and first year representative Jacky RosenJacklyn (Jacky) Sheryl RosenPoll: Dems lead in Senate races in Indiana and West Virginia, tied for Nevada Dems dominate Republicans midway The Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – Presented by the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs Decide Whether Dems Capturing House PLUS (D) clashed over health care, gun control and President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Guardian blames Trump for commenting on the assault of a journalist. Five points to remember from the first debate in the Senate of North Dakota. Watchdog org: Tillerson has used millions of dollars of taxpayer funds to move to the United States. Friday night in the first and only debate of their race at the Nevada Senate.

The candidates accused each other, talked to each other and made fun of their rival's responses at various points in the one-hour discussion.

The tension on the scene in Las Vegas reflected the proximity of the candidates to the polls and the negative tone of the race.

Heller, who is the main target of Democrats in the Senate, has less than two points in the Real Clear Politics Poll Index, while outside groups have donated more than $ 40 million in the race, according to the Center for Responsive Politics .

Here are five points to remember from the debate:

Heller hugs Trump

Rosen repeatedly called Heller "a stamp" for Trump and claimed that Nevadians had to elect someone who would serve as a means of control, echoing an argument put forward by Democratic candidates across the country.

But instead of fleeing Trump, Heller kissed the president, arguing that his relationship with him could help the state.

At one point, Heller was asked to explain his statement in the 2016 campaign that he was "99%" against Trump, but now supports him on many points.

Heller explained that Trump's success, especially his management of the economy, had changed his mind.

"It's true.Ask the President.We fought like cats and dogs.What happened was success.What happened was success.He became President of the United States and we started working together, "he said.

"I'll be the first to tell you that I do not agree with everything that he said, but I agree with most of what he does." was amazing about this economy, he did a good job, "he added.

Rosen scores biggest blow on health care

Rosen's most effective moment came at the end of the debate when she challenged Heller to look at the camera and tell a family he had met last year why he had "broken" his promise to protect people pre-existing diseases.

Rosen mentioned Teresa Bohannan in Reno, whom Heller met last year and promised to preserve ObamaCare's protections for his son Dean, born with a congenital heart defect, a pre-existing condition that could affect his insurance rates for rest of his life.

"Then you went back to Washington and you broke your promise. You gave in, said Rosen.

Heller responded that he had helped draft a Republican bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, which would have maintained some protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

"I have two grandchildren with pre-existing illnesses. I think it's ridiculous, Congressman, to think that I would not be here for the health and safety of my own grandchildren, "he replied.

Rosen's campaign immediately issued a press release accusing Heller of lying, stating a vote he had taken in 2011 to repeal the Affordable Care Act and a vote this month to support the Trump administration efforts to enact low-cost insurance plans, which, according to Democrats, are really Plans of "junk".

Heller stumbles on marks

Heller asserted in the debate that he had never supported the funds set aside, the spending provisions imposed by Congress that the former majority leader of the Senate Harry ReidHarry Mason ReidThe revisions necessary to ensure that a violent revolution remains fictitious The Senate goes to the campaign after the conclusion of an agreement with the Trump GOP candidates has always been aggressive trying to personalize the system of judicial appointments PLUS (D-Nev.) Had the habit of directing tens of millions of dollars to Nevada.

"I can not stand the tickets anymore since I'm in Washington, DC," Heller said. "We must strengthen the economy. We do not need more pills. "

But it was a failure for Heller, who quickly turned back and apologized after being challenged by moderator Steve Sebelius, the "Politics Now" host of KLAS-TV.

Heller has gone out of his way to explain that he supported a definitive ban since the Republicans implemented it after taking office in the House in 2010.

"I was wrong about this," he said. "When I first came to Congress, yes, we had reservations, I think for the first two sessions. After that, we banned it and have supported the ban since. I am sorry to have made this mistake.

Candidates draw a contrast on gun control on federal lands

Candidates in the Senate had one of the clearest disagreements over policies when asked whether background checks should be extended to private sales and transfers, as suggested by Sense. Joe ManchinCountdown to Joseph (Joe) ManchinElection: The fight for the Florida Senate resumes after the hurricane | Cruz softens attacks ObamaCare | GOP worries that Trump will lose suburbs | Recent polls in the Senate | Rep. Dave Brat gets "total support" from Trump | Candidates for resignation set a record B Poll: Dems lead in Senate races in Indiana and West Virginia, tied for Nevada McConnell defends Trump's lawsuit against ObamaCare PLUS (D-W.Va.) And Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyNormal development: the choice of the South Korean envoy splits Trump on the nuclear threat | McCain hurts movement to suspend Korean military exercises | The White House defends Trump's salvation to North Korean general WH on Trump's "regular procedure" on firearms. Leading GOP Candidate Retires from Ohio Senate Run MORE (R-Pa.) After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

Rosen said she was supportive of extending background checks to private sales and limiting the sale of ammunition clamps of higher capacity, while Heller said he supported the second amendment.

"This question could not put two candidates further apart from each other. I support the second amendment and I will not do anything to take away the guns from law-abiding citizens, "said Heller, adding that he would prefer to ensure that people with" mental problems "have access to the law. limited to firearms.

Heller attempted to avoid criticisms that he might have for not supporting the universal background check by extolling his role in enacting the NIC Fix Law to encourage law enforcement to share more easily information with the national system of instant criminal background checks.

When asked directly when he was supporting the background check of all firearm sales, Heller responded, "No. No. I believe in the second amendment and I will not restrain law-abiding citizens here in this country.

But then he added, "I'm going to do a thorough background check. And that's what the Fix NIC system is. "

On federal lands, Heller highlighted his work on agreements to open federal lands to private development, which he said would allow communities to expand and reduce the cost of housing.

"I'm working on four right now. Four land deals, "said Heller. "I want to know about how many people you work with, because what we are trying to do, is to extend the footprint of these cities so that we can expand housing and allow us to further reduce easily housing costs here, in the state of Nevada. . "

Rosen countered by saying that Nevada's federal lands and the tourism they draw are a major source of economic activity in the state.

"What we have to do is keep our public lands in public hands. I want to tell you that our outdoor tourism industry is so dynamic. That's close to 150,000 jobs and millions of tax dollars in the state, "she said.

Heller considers the Senate's experience as a major asset

Heller highlighted his record and seniority in the Senate and his relationship with Trump with the goal of putting Rosen, who has been sitting in the House for less than two years, on the defensive in the face of his lack of congressional experience.

Heller's campaign triggered an email early in the debate, saying Heller had "submitted more than 100 signed laws in the law for Nevadians."

Her campaign also blamed Rosen for having cited 50 bills that had already been passed in the House, challenging her to say how many people had passed the law and how much she had written.

Rosen admitted that she had limited experience in Congress, but she tried to portray herself as a less partisan political person, highlighting her bipartisan background as a member of the House caucus for problem solving.

She also tried to reverse Heller's experience against him by calling her "career politician" and out of touch with the habitual Nevadians.