Congressional opponents face off in first debate
Posted at: 09/09/2012 4:23 PM
| Updated at: 09/09/2012 4:48 PM
By: Danielle Todesco, KOB Eyewitness News 4
The two candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives 1st Congressional District seat went head to head in their first debate Sunday.
Republican Janice Arnold-Jones and Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham debated at Congregation Albert in Northeast Albuquerque Sunday morning.
Each touched on multiple topics including the foreign policy, Medicare, and the national debt.
Lujan Grisham pointed out the things that she said have put America so far in debt: Two costly wars, tax breaks for the wealthy, and bank bailouts in the Bush Administration are to blame.
"We've got to bring our jobs home from overseas," Lujan Grisham said as one solution.
She said Congress needs to give companies incentives to hire Americans.
Arnold-Jones said the way to fix the debt is to cut the size of Federal government and avoid duplication.
"We can talk about what we've done in the past, but it won't make any difference," Arnold-Jones said. "Today is the day to talk about the future."
The only common ground they share is that they are both mothers.
But they are quick to distinguish their many differences.
"From a policy standpoint, what I fundamentally believe in my soul is considerably different," Lujan Grisham said.
"She's a widow, I was an orphan," Arnold-Jones said. "It gives us different perspectives."
More than 300 people showed up to hear the debate at Congregation Albert.
"The policies that I see Janice Arnold-Jones pushing forward to me seem the appropriate ones for the nation right now," attendee Anthony Thornton said. "The debt and the deficit are the big issues that we're facing as a country."
"I wanted to hear what Michelle Lujan Grisham had to say," attendee Terri Holland said. "She's a fighter. She's always been a fighter. She will stand tall. I know she's a little short thing, but she has a big presence."
Before Election Day on November 6th, the two candidates are expected to meet again at least six more times.
Both will speak Tuesday at a forum at the Marriott At 7:30 p.m.
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