DALLAS -- Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Paul Sadler squared off for the last time Friday night, each in his own quest to claim the first open U.S. Senate seat in a decade.
In a sharp contrast to the first time the two men debated -- when they talked over each other and argued -- this last debate was a much more cordial affair."Some people probably tuned in to watch fireworks and what they saw was a real debate," Sadler said after the event, at the Dallas studio of public television station KERA/Channel 13.For an hour Friday night, the two addressed issues ranging from immigration to the economy."There's a sharp divide" between the two candidates, Cruz said. "One [approach] is continuing down the road of the Obama Democrats."We've tried that for 31/2 years and it doesn't work. The economy is struggling," he said. "My focus is going to be helping small-business owners create jobs."Sadler said he would be the best senator for Texas because he has the experience of already working in the Legislature, in a bipartisan manner, to guide him."I've actually done the things he talks about," he said. "I've been in the Legislature, passed the bills. ... I have the experience."The race to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate became one of the nastiest and most-watched races in the country earlier this year during the primary battle. But the battle now between Cruz, a Tea Party favorite and former solicitor general, and Sadler, a former state legislator and attorney, hasn't come close to the intensity of the multimillion-dollar GOP primary battle that pitted Cruz against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.Two third-party candidates were not included in Friday's debate: Libertarian John Jay Myers of Dallas and Green Party candidate David Collins of Houston.Political observers have long said they expect the winner of the Republican primary to win the November race, because Democrats haven't won a statewide office in Texas in nearly 20 years.In the contest for this first open U.S. Senate seat in Texas since 2002, Cruz so far has raised more than $11 million and Sadler has raised nearly $500,000.A look at a few issues the candidates addressed:ImmigrationSadler said it's important for the country to deal with immigration."If we don't start dealing with it, 10 years from now" politicians will still be talking about what to do, he said.He supports securing the border, passing the Dream Act, creating a temporary worker permit to allow those already in the country to stay at least temporarily and creating "a reasonable path to citizenship.""To do nothing leaves us exactly where we are now," he said. "These things will help us move past this."Cruz said "immigration is an issue we have to address from many directions at once."He said leaders must get serious about securing the borders -- using fences, walls, technology, boots on the ground and whatever other measures possible. That, he said, needs to be combined with a strong eVerify system."If we do that, it will then enable a [discussion] about legal immigration" and how to address that issue."I don't think either party is really serious about fixing this," he said.The economyCruz maintains his goal is to restrain government spending, avoid raising taxes and simplify the tax code. That, and economic growth throughout the country, will be steps in the right direction."If we raise taxes, it will kill jobs," he said. "Texans can rest assured if I am elected. ... I will not support raising taxes on any Texan."My opponent has said he will raise taxes on every taxpayer."Cruz said elected officials should "dramatically simplify the tax code," lower marginal rates and eliminate deductions and loopholes.Sadler pointed out that eliminating deductions and loopholes will equal a tax hike on some taxpayers.But Cruz said he could lower the tax rate for those people so it wouldn't equal a tax hike."Both of these plans raise taxes," Sadler said after the debate."The difference is I'm going to tell you the truth."Sadler has said that elected officials will need to look at the George W. Bush tax cuts to determine which ones should remain and which ones should be eliminated.But to pay down the country's deficit, he said, will take cuts and a shared sacrifice by all Americans."You cannot grow your way out of this," Sadler said. "The numbers are simply too great."HealthcareCruz said he supports letting all Americans buy health insurance across state lines, which he believes could lead to lower healthcare costs and open the door to allowing more people to get coverage in a private healthcare market.Sadler maintained his opponent's plan won't lower healthcare costs and, no matter what, there will always be people who can't afford health insurance.Cruz said the reform plan he supports for Medicare would create one option for middle-aged and young Americans -- and let older Americans continue with the program as it is today.Sadler said the nation's current healthcare system will help extend the program, but he said "hard decisions" lie down the road.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsleyHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
