Updated 10/20/2010 11:16 AM
Murphy and Gibson square off in latest 20th District debate
With only two weeks until election day, many voters remain undecided. On Tuesday, a debate between the candidates seeking New York's 20th District seat, should help some make up their minds. Our Matt Hunter has more.
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QUEENSBURY, N.Y. – Both outside and inside the Queensbury High School auditorium, Democratic Congressman Scott Murphy and his Republican challenger Chris Gibson received rousing ovations from supporters before taking the stage in their second to last debate.
Hosted by the Warren County League of Women Voters, a packed crowd witnesses the two men square off on issues ranging from job creation and the economy to healthcare reform.
At no point was the debate more heated than when in his closing remarks, Murphy accused Gibson of making false statements about campaign finance reports and then blaming the error on staff.
"You had a new excuse a few days later, that turned out to be also a lie," Murphy said.
Murphy said Gibson flip-flopped a second time when, in their last debate, the retired Army colonel came out in favor of a bill to increase loans to small business owners after his staff initially sent out a press release saying he opposed it.
“This was my fault and I said that right from the start,” said Gibson, following Tuesday night’s debate. “The reason why I supported it... What would I possibly gain from flip flopping? The fact of the matter is, I support the bill."
Prior to the last 10 minutes, the hour-and-half-long debate had a more subdued tone. One of the biggest differences between the two candidates was their opinions on raising taxes on companies that ship jobs overseas.
“I'll stand up to Mr. Gibson and others that say we can't raise taxes on companies that are shipping jobs overseas,” Murphy said. “Yes we can, we need to because we need to make it a little harder for companies to ship jobs overseas."
This is crazy, this is why our companies are not competitive,” Gibson said. “And as far as shipping jobs overseas, you put that ad up there, I’ll tell you, Scott, the only thing I've shipped overseas in the last decade has been myself and my paratroopers to fight for your freedom."
In the latest Siena College Poll, Gibson trails Murphy by 17 points, but a more recent Republican sponsored poll has Gibson with a slight lead.
The two debate once more on public television this Thursday.