(Host) The first debate between incumbent Senator Patrick Leahy and his Republican challenger Len Britton highlighted differences on government spending and health care reform.
The Senate race also drew a high-profile endorsement from Arizona senator John McCain. The former presidential candidate said Vermont needs a change in Washington.
VPR’s John Dillon has more:
(Dillon) Len Britton is a political newcomer who says he decided to run for the Senate because he fears the ballooning federal debt will be disastrous for his five children.
In his debate with Leahy on VPR, Britton said every part of the budget – including military spending – needs to be questioned.
(Britton) "There’s a whole host of low-hanging fruit that we need to do. But unfortunately because Washington is so awash with special interests and lobbyists it’s hard to get these things accomplished. That’s why I propose that we need citizen legislators like myself who aren’t beholden to all these interest groups to go down there and start this process."
(Dillon) Leahy pressed Britton to be specific about precisely where the federal budget could be cut.
(Leahy) "You talk about child nutrition programs do you cut those? You talk about education. Do you cut those?"
(Dillon) Leahy and Britton also sparred over federal spending to help Lake Champlain. Britton says the lake remains polluted despite Leahy’s budget earmarks for clean up programs.
(Britton) "The Vermonters I’ve been talking to would like to have a comprehensive environmental policy and right now I don’t see that that exists. I’ve been to St. Albans Bay and it’s un-swimmable and we need a lot more effort on the lake to clean it up."
(Dillon) Leahy said he didn’t understand Britton’s complaints since the federal funding has helped the lake.
(Leahy) "I’m not quite sure how to respond to that. When I put direct money into the budget for Vermont, I do it very openly, very specifically and Republicans and Democrats vote for it."
(Dillon) A recent VPR Vermont poll shows that Leahy enjoys a 2-1 lead over Britton two weeks before the election.
But Arizona Republican Senator John McCain is predicting an upset. As he stumped for Britton in a brief appearance in South Burlington, McCain said a wave of voter anger will sweep Democrats out of office.
(McCain) "My friends I understand that the senior senator from Vermont brags about the earmark and pork barrel spending that he engages in. My friends, I can tell you know that I’ve seen it. That it’s corruption, it’s wrong. It’s a waste and terrible misuse of taxpayer dollars."
(Dillon) McCain said in a brief interview that he wasn’t attacking Leahy personally.
(McCain) "It’s not so much a criticism of Sen. Leahy as it is we need someone who is a fiscal conservative, who will balance the budget… who will represent the values frankly that Americans are expressing all over this country."
(Dillon) A crowd of about 175 people – mostly military veterans – attended the South Burlington rally.
For VPR News, I’m John Dillon.