The seven-part gubernatorial debate series culminated last night in Philadelphia when Democrat Ed Rendell faced off with Republican Mike Fisher on issues ranging from education to abortion.
With Election Day less than a week away, both candidates seemed eager to expound on their agendas and clear the air.
A couple of Mike Morrill supporters toting signs outside the studio in protest of the Green party candidate's exclusion from the debates were a reminder of the liveliness that has characterized the series -- at the last debate, Morrill actually stormed the stage before the broadcast and had to be escorted off by security.
Nevertheless, the final debate was in no way lacking in passion.
At the top of the debate were the ever-contentious issues of tax reform and public eduction.
Fisher, who according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday continues to trail Rendell by 19 points, called for mandates in the next series of state elections in May for each school district to decide whether they would want to use a property or a local tax to fund education.
"If a district votes for a local tax, then money from the income tax would be used in that district," Fisher said.
Rendell, on the other hand, called for an increase in the federal share -- which he cited as currently around 30 percent -- for funding education.
"I want to build the state share back over 50 percent," Rendell said. "That would generate about $1 billion."
Rendell also stated that in cutting government waste and increasing productivity, as well as legalizing slot machines at race tracks, the state could generate roughly $500 million in revenue that could be used for education. Furthermore, Rendell called for equalizing spending to bring up poorer districts.
Both candidates accused the other's plan of incurring raises in taxes.
Fisher criticized Rendell's plan, stating that his property tax reductions would be unevenly distributed across the region -- Philadelphia would get a 50 percent reduction, while other suburbs would get less.
Rendell, in turn, criticized Fisher's plan for doing nothing to change the inequities.
Rendell and Fisher were also clearly split on the issues of gambling, gun control and abortion.
Gambling, an issue of some contention throughout the debates, came up again in terms of legalizing riverboat gambling. Rendell supports riverboat gambling in addition to legalizing slot machines. Fisher stated that the only gambling he supports is slot machine use at race tracks and criticized Rendell for being "all over the lot" in what forms of gambling he supports.
In the wake of the recent sniper attacks in the Washington, D.C. area, Rendell stated that he favored reducing gun purchases and creating tighter gun control laws, while Fisher said that he wanted to focus more on creating tougher penalties on criminals to send out strong messages.
Finally, should the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision be reversed, Rendell said that he would veto any bill to outlaw abortion, while Fisher said he would sign any bill that prevented abortion -- except in cases of rape or incest. Both said, however, that they favor promoting adoption as an option.
At the end of the debate, the moderator allowed each candidate to ask the other a question, and each called the other's integrity into question.
Fisher questioned Rendell on why he had not yet released his income tax forms for 2001.
"What is there to hide?" Fisher asked, shaking his finger at Rendell.
"Mike will never listen," Rendell retaliated, stating that he plans to release the forms this Thursday and that his record as a public officer for over 25 years speaks for itself.
Rendell then asked Fisher why he had pledged, along with Rendell, at one of the debates not to run a negative campaign, and yet has run one of the most negative campaigns, according to Rendell, in Pennsylvania's history.
"You're the one running the negative campaign" Fisher snapped back. "Why are you whining?"
Bringing the debate to a close, with Rendell and Fisher still arguing, the moderator suggested that though the show was over, "You can continue this after the debate."
"Not on your life!" Rendell quipped.
The event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters and the NAACP was broadcast live by Philadelphia's WPVI-TV, an ABC affiliate.
About the Series
Every Friday until the gubernatorial elections in November, The Daily Pennsylvanian will run an article analyzing the major issues on the minds of Pennsylvania voters and how the major candidates are addressing them.
As polls change, as the advertisements start to heat up, the DP will focus on the angle coming from each candidate's campaign and the perspective provided by political experts and non-partisan analysts, as well as how ordinary Pennsylvanians react to the messages of Ed Rendell and Mike Fisher.
And as the campaigns progress and Nov. 5 approaches, share your thoughts at the dailypennsylvanian.com
gubernatorial race forum.
