Even as polls continue to show a neck-and-neck sprint to the finish, personal attacks -- not an explanation of platforms -- dominated Tuesday night's debate between the two top Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and billionaire financier Jeff Greene.
The internet-streamed, Orlando-TV debate was the third between the two, and by far the most accessible for Florida viewers. It was broadcast in all of the state's major markets.
Despite both Democatic candidates trailing far behind Republican Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation, the two candidates hurled so many insults at each other that at one point they found themselves debating who attacked who first.
The debate was held in the studios of WKMG and was hosted by Lauren Rowe, a news anchor for the station. It was sponsored jointly by WKMG, the Florida Press Association and Leadership Florida.
The action started with a question from Rowe about how the candidates would draft legislation to create more jobs. Meek pushed for tax cuts for the middle class and high-speed rail, arguing building a railway will help create jobs in the state. Transportation is a problem no matter where you live in Florida, added Meek.
We have a jobs crisis, countered Greene. Its not a job problem. The billionaire blamed elected officials, including Meek, for the record high unemployment in the state.
The candidates sparred over the tax cuts backed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003. While both candidates said they support the repeal of those tax cuts, Greene said he will exempt small businesses.
The second question concerned the nasty tone the race has taken -- which quickly led to both candidates throwing mud at each other.
Neither candidate made any excuses for the harsh rhetoric coming from their campaign teams. Greene reiterated the message of his campaign ads, calling Meek corrupt and attacking the congressman for being a career politician. Meek agreed with his earlier characterization of Greene as a bad man.
As Meek and Greene began repeating attacks they have made against each other for more than two months, Rowe took control. Were off the rails here, she said, moving the debate along. Lets move on to the topics you seem so eager to debate, she said, accentuating the word eager.
The candidates generally refrained from attacking each other when questioned on specific issues. Asked about health care, the candidates praised new federal laws backed by President Barack Obama, but sparred over Medicaid. Replying to a question on Social Security reform, Greene and Meek attacked Crist and Rubio for backing raising the age of eligibility for receiving Social Security benefits.
But that was a rare moment free from personal attacks, despite Rowes best efforts. The candidates asked each other questions and once again the gloves came off.
Greene asked Meek about his mothers connections to Dennis Stackhouse, a developer in South Florida who is facing criminal investigations, who benefited from earmarks backed by Meek. This quickly moved into questions about ethics.
Im not taking one penny of special-interest money, said Greene. Im going to fight to end the culture of corruption and bribery in Washington, which you are a part of.
Meek shot back, "Your life is a question mark. I have more integrity in my pinky than you do in your whole body.
Meek then asked a question about Greenes record in the real-estate industry, arguing that his opponent profited off the back of failed mortgages.
I saw the housing bubble coming and I went against the biggest banks on Wall Street and I won, replied Greene.
Greene said that Meek and members of Congress refused to regulate the housing lending industry -- even accusing the congressman of pushing risky sub-prime mortgages and money from the industry.
Guys like you were just part of the party, Greene told Meek. You were getting money from all of these guys and refusing to regulate them.
Rowe tried to steer the debate back to issues with a question on funding education -- and the candidates quickly fell back to attacking each other. Greene taunted Meek for drafting 70 bills in his eight years in Congress with none of them passing, leading Meek to offer a detailed parliamentary response about how bills merge in the committee process.
Meek brought up Greene running for Congress in California back in 1982 -- as a Republican.
Asked about his reputation as a playboy, Greene said it is not an issue, noting that he had married late in his life and now is the father of a 10-month-old baby.
As the debate wound down, Rowe asked both candidates whether Democrats will back whoever emerges from the primary, despite Crists continued success winning support from Democrats in polls and in donations.
President Obama is supporting my campaign, said Meek, adding that former President Bill Clinton will also be campaigning for him.
Greene insisted he would be backed by the White House if he prevails in the primary, and noted that he, unlike Meek, pledged to back whoever emerged as the Democratic nominee.
The debate ended with each candidate closing over a 20-second segment. Meek pleaded for votes while Greene attacked the congressman for representing politics-as-usual.
During the debate, the Greene and Meek teams both sent e-mails, rebutting their opponents comments, and after the debate the two sides each claimed victory.
Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, who is also running in the Democratic primary, sued to be included in the debate, but a judge dismissed his plea on Monday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
