New Hampshire: Debate

The candidates for the 2nd Congressional District seat participated in their final debate, which they used to spell out their differences on economic issues.

U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord), who is running for a second term against Jennifer Horn (R-Nashua), was criticized by Horn for not doing enough to deal with the economic crisis and said his accepting campaign donation from financial institutions has affected his voting record.

GOFFSTOWN--In their second debate, state Sen. Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester) said that his opponent Bob Backus (D-Manchester) wants to "kill the American dream."

Gatsas made the comment after Backus criticized deregulation of Wall Street in a debate sponsored by the Manchester Mayor's Youth Advisory Council.

"Guess what folks markets don't solve everything," Backus said. "Deregulation can go too far it can cause real damage when you leave financial institutions."

WEARE--State Sen. Harold Janeway (D-Webster) and Andy Sanborn (R-Henniker) participated in their only debate on Weare public television.

In the debate the projected budget deficit and the tax pledge took center stage.

Sanborn said that he does not favor an income or sales tax, while Janeway said that he has not taken the "no tax" pledge because he wants an "open and honest" debate about the budget.

When asked if by refusing to sign the pledge Janeway favors an income tax, Janeway said, "It does not mean I favor an income tax."

HENNIKER-Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) struggled in a debate over a question asked by Politicker.com national managing editor James Pindell.

Shaheen was participating in the first live televised debate against U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley).

"Governor can you give one issue that you believe in your gut to be absolutely true but that the polls suggest to be politically unpopular," Pindell asked in a debate held at New England College.