INTERVIEW — QUENTIN KIDD — VA political analyst and Vice Provost and Director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA – analyzed the Kaine-Stewart debate in Virginia.
- Kaine, Stewart spar over Kavanaugh during Virginia Senate debate. The candidates squared off over the Supreme Court controversy in suburban Virginia. (NBC News) — McLEAN, Va. — Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Corey Stewart displayed deep divisions over the sexual assault allegations facing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as they locked horns Wednesday night during a fiery Virginia Senate debate. Sharing the stage at an NBC4 Washington debate moderated by NBC News political director and “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd, Kaine called on the Senate to subpoena witnesses and hear testimony from all of Kavanaugh’s accusers. Stewart dodged his previous criticism of an accuser to argue that the Senate’s poor record on investigating its own sexual harassment allegations makes them hypocrites. “They spent $17 million to quash accusations of sexual harassment against them and now they are going after Judge Kavanaugh, 36-year-old allegations from when he was in high school. Who are they to judge?” Stewart said.
- Virginia’s Kaine, Stewart keep up insults at second debate. (Washington Post) — U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and GOP challenger Corey Stewart traded insults in a testy debate Wednesday over whose style would best represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Kaine, a folksy former governor who was once dubbed “America’s Dad” when he was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016, said Virginians want a forward-looking leader who doesn’t stoke divisions for political gain like he said Stewart does. “It’s angry and it’s divisive and what we need is leaders, especially in this moment, who are upbeat and positive and inclusive,” Kaine said. Stewart, a deliberately provocative politician well known for his outspoken defense of Confederate imagery, said the state needs someone willing to twist or even breaks arms to get things done. Stewart said Virginians want a senator who supports President Donald Trump’s agenda. “You’re bitter about 2016, you’re voting against every single thing that President Trump does,” said Stewart, a one-time state chairman of Trump’s presidential campaign. Wednesday was the second of three planned debates and the sparring and quarrelsome tone largely mirrored the pair’s first meeting in July. Stewart mocked Kaine’s record as Virginia governor and the Senate, saying Kaine had no substantive accomplishments. Stewart also made unsubstantiated attacks that Kaine discriminates against Asians and has sought to cover up sexual harassment by members of Congress.
