GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Republican challenger Mike Bouchard sparred over issues ranging from the economy to the Iraq war on Sunday as they met in their first debate. Bouchard, the Oakland County sheriff, said Stabenow has been ineffective and has flip-flopped on several issues. "She says one thing here and does another thing in Washington," he said.
The former state lawmaker also criticized Stabenow's record on the economy, noting that Michigan has lost thousands of jobs in recent years.
Stabenow, seeking a second term, said Bouchard would support the "failed policies" of the Bush administration.
She defended her economic stances, including a plan to have a prosecutor enforce trade agreements with other nations to protect U.S. jobs. She said "nobody in Washington understands better" than she what is at stake for the middle class.
"We are in a fight for our way of life," Stabenow said.
On the Iraq war, Stabenow said it's now time for the Iraqi police and military to "step up so we can transition out." Bouchard said a withdrawal should be "based on when is it more safe and secure, and then as quickly as possible bring our troops home."
The two candidates also sparred over Bouchard's role on the board of a Lansing-based insurance company, Jackson National Life. Bouchard has been paid up to $60,000 a year for his work with the company.
Stabenow said the company has outsourced jobs overseas, but Bouchard said that her claims were "unbelievably untrue" and that the company is held up as a Michigan success story. He said Stabenow has received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from people associated with the company.
A message was left seeking comment with a Jackson National spokesman Sunday afternoon.
A telephone poll released Sunday of 643 likely voters by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, found Stabenow had a 13-point lead, with 17 percent listed as "other/not sure" and a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The poll was conducted for the Detroit Free Press and Detroit television station WDIV, from Oct. 8 through Wednesday.
The debate was recorded at the Public Broadcasting Service studios of WGVU-TV, for broadcast later in the day on PBS stations statewide.
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On the Net:
Stabenow: http://www.stabenowforsenate.com
Bouchard: http://www.MikeforMichigan.com
