One thing was very clear at the debate: These candidates despise each other and those feeling trickle down to their staff. I thought MDB let it show a little more though, a certain snideness slipped into his tone every now and then, and that doesn't go over well on TV. (His brother, incidentally, doesn't appear to be having the same problem in his much less civil debate with Raul Martinez, which is going on as I write this).
Garica was more effective on health care. His story about a man in the district who has epilepsy and cannot find a job that will provide him health insurance was one of the more effective moments of the debate, However:
MDB nailed the question about whether he can "bring the bacon home" for the district, and it helped that he had the Miami Herald's endorsement to lean on.
Garcia speaks more specifically, sights more statistics about the district, and that may help him seem more in touch with everyday problems. MDB was passionate when talking about his record, effectively citing his votes to push back criticisms that he is in lockstep with Bush. He also did well when talking about Latin America. It's refreshing, for me anyway, to hear a politician willing to promote a pro-trade agenda with Latin America durring an election.
The debate was civil, but the time constraints made it difficult for the discussion to get beyond their talking points on the most complex issues, health care and the financial crisis.
3 comments:
It is hard to believe that anyone really wants another term of Mario.
There is always so much hoopla and spin on every incumbents claims. they don't print their annual "It's all about me" newsletters on glossy paper without a reason. They look official and the gloss blinds constituents to the fact that the shiny paper is definitely holding a spin.
It's pretty ridiculous that the Herald essentially based their endorsement of Mario on the fact that he brings money for the district. The reality is, Lincoln -- and every single other member of Florida's delegation -- brings back more federal dollars than Mario.
Add to that his standing in the minority party when we're looking at a Democratic president being elected, plus an even stronger Democratic majority in the House and Senate, and Mario's so-called big money days are over.
Nothing on Mahoney yet? What a shock!
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