SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Sparks flew at the Chapman Cultural Center as Republican Nikki Haley and Democrat Vincent Sheheen met for their first televised debate in the race for South Carolina governor.
Sheheen set the tone in his opening statement with a jab at Haley's trustworthiness, framing the election as an opportunity to move away from Republican control in South Carolina.
If you look at what's happened from the folks who've been running our state, you can t be anything but embarrassed, he said, referencing Gov. Mark Sanford's ethics scandal and the convictions of a state treasurer for drug dealing and an agriculture secretary for bribery.
Haley hammered Sheheen hard on double-dipping, accusing him of profiting from his law firm's lawsuits against state agencies.
You personally pocket every day, representing the people of this state, and turning around and you sue the taxpayers of this state, she said.
The candidates also had heated arguments over policy. Haley's answer to a question on education suggested cutting education funding by privatizing the maintenance of school buses. Sheheen reminded Haley that that too costs money and jobs.
The candidates also argued over Haley's record on securing targeted grants critics call pork and on stimulus money.
Haley said she often agrees to sign forms for constituents on applications for state money to level the playing field for them, but votes against the projects because of an ideological opposition to pork. Sheheen accused her of political expediency.
You applied for that money and then voted against it so you can stand up here and pretend like you re some great taxpayer advocate, Sheheen said.
Senator, the votes matter. Look at the votes. I voted against the slush fund and you voted for it, Haley charged back.
But you were willing to pull right up there and try to get out of that trough you talk about, Sheheen said, as the debate moderator ended the exchange.
On the issue of accepting federal stimulus money, the exchange went like this:
On the vote that mattered, that affected the people in this room, I did not vote for the stimulus, Haley said.
Sheheen countered, Did you vote for the amendment that said we should take the stimulus?
Senator, I get that you are trial lawyer, Haley said, but I m not one of the people in your courtroom.
The race between Haley and Sheheen has tightened with two weeks to Election Day, but Haley --a tea party favorite -- still holds a 9 point advantage in the latest poll from Winthrop University.
The candidates will debate again Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.
