Nathan Deal told voters Saturday that they deserve a governor with a college degree. Karen Handel said they deserve one with ethics.
The two GOP candidates, locked in a tightening runoff campaign, took aim at each other in a televised debate sponsored by Channel 2 Action News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and NewsTalk 750 WSB-AM.
The candidates, who will face off in a runoff for the GOP gubernatorial nomination on Tuesday, answered questions but gave few specifics about what they would do in terms of transportation, water and education policy, both contending they would be able to work best with the Legislature to find solutions for tough problems.
Deal, a former congressman from Gainesville, said state lawmakers, many of whom have announced their support for him, want a governor who would listen to them. Handel, the former secretary of state, said her record of working successfully as chairwoman of the often fractious, Democratic-dominated Fulton County Commission proved she had the political skills to get things done.
Handel said she supports passing some version of the Arizona immigration law that has been partially knocked down by a federal court. She said she would watch the court case to see how to shape such a law and she wants to hold employers accountable. Deal noted the state already has four counties that are working with federal officials to identify illegal immigrants and argued that policy should be statewide.
But the candidates spent much of the 30-minute debate assailing each other as they have throughout the campaign. Deal said Handels lack of a college degree would send the wrong signal to young people regarding the importance of education. Handel said Deal was ethically challenged, citing the ethics investigation against him while he was a member of Congress that has now morphed into a federal grand-jury investigation. Deal said he was not the target of the investigation and had cooperated fully with authorities.
A bipartisan congressional committee found Deal likely acted improperly when he and his staff intervened to protect a state program that earned his company nearly $300,000 a year.
Handel said that was an example of why she supported strong conflict-of-interest laws. She said state officials shouldnt be permitted to have business relationships with the state.
Deal tried to turn the ethics issue against Handel by saying the watchdog group that brought the charge prompting the congressional investigation also had brought charges against Handels best-known supporter, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Handel wanted Palins support while giving credibility to the group that attacked her, he said.
You know Ms. Handel says she believes she has lipstick and a pocketbook, Deal said, alluding to Handels negative political ads against him. I dont believe her handbag is big enough to carry enough lipstick to cover that kind of hypocrisy.
Quotes from the debate
Here are some of the memorable sound bites from the debate:
Deal on Handels education: I think it does send a message to young people when were all talking about the importance of education. ... I have many friends who dont have college degrees; they are very successful people but I think as governor of the state we need to set an example.
Handel on her education, citing her past elected offices, background in private business and heading the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce: The voters are going to look at the breadth of my experience. ... I will stack my record of success and achievement in all of those jobs against a career politician any day of the week.
Deal on transportation: We have been in a holding pattern with transportation for the last few years. I will be a governor who unjams that roadblock.
Handel on the question of whether too much state transportation funding excludes Atlanta: We cant afford to address transportation only in Atlanta.
Deal on state legislators and officials having business dealings with the state: I think the main thing people want to know is that things are open and transparent.
Handel: I take that to mean that you would not advocate having strong conflict-of-interest rules.
Deal: I never had a contract with the state. I never had a no-bid situation. I had a cooperative relationship.
Handel: It is a fact that you had a no-bid deal with the state that made you and your partner millions.
This story is provided through the Georgia Newspaper Partnership.
