McHugh, DeSalle Make Final Push In Last Debate

NAT gubernatorial candidates make differences clear


LANSFIELD DOWNS, KALNIER--With just three days to go until next Tuesday's primary election in Kalnier, the two Nationalist candidates for governor tried to establish themselves as the best candidate in the final debate for the primary.

The debate was held at Winslow University in Lansfield Downs, about 20 miles southwest of Lamberth, and was sponsored by the Kalnier League of Small Businesses. The debate mostly focused on economic issues, and both former Governor Al McHugh (N-Lockwood) and state Senator Karen DeSalle (N-Vitarick) tried to outline their respective agendas.

"The first and foremost challenge the next governor will face is the economy," the 67-year-old McHugh, who served as governor from 1986-1994, said. "We have to get businesses growing again, and people back in their homes, and workers back on the payroll. That will be my number one priority."

DeSalle also mentioned job growth and the housing crisis as chief concerns, but said the budget deficit is also a top priority.

"I agree with you Al, that we will have to get Kalnier working again. But we are going to have to make some difficult decisions and make some painful choices. We have a budget deficit that is ballooning and this recession may very well not ease up for a while, so we are going to have to go through the budget line by line and see where we can cut, responsibly, spending, and see where we may need to increase taxes."

McHugh blasted the idea of raising taxes.

"When I was governor in 1992, we had a $300 million deficit. And I was able to bring Nationalists and Conservatives, and all others in between, together to fix the hole in the budget. How did we do it? By looking at the budget and making common sense decisions. We did it all without raising taxes."

The two were also asked so-called "rapid fire" questions, only giving a "yes" or "no" answer. Both agreed on almost every issue, except for taxes and economic stimulation.

The debate marks the beginning of the final push before Tuesday's primary, where Ms. DeSalle has the decisive advantage. Having declared her candidacy back in August 2009, DeSalle gained the backing of national party leaders and has an overwhelming financial edge over McHugh, who entered the race late at the prompting of conservative Nationalists.

Still, despite her advantage, DeSalle is not breathing easy in what has turned into a closer-than-expected primary battle.

"We are taking nothing for granted and we will not stop or slow down until election night at eight o'clock," a smiling DeSalle told reporters following the debate.

McHugh appeared equally committed to the campaign, telling a local newspaper reporter that the race is "far from finalized."

"This election is not about Al McHugh or Karen DeSalle or anybody else. It's about the people of Kalnier and who they trust to be their next governor. And we will find out who they choose Tuesday night," McHugh said.

Both McHugh and DeSalle have a seemingly sizeable advantage over Conservative incumbent Joe Gramma (pronounced "Graw-mah"), who has mediocre approval ratings and is facing rising unpopularity due to Kalnier's ailing economy. Adding to Gramma's troubles, his lieutenant governor, Jennifer Knowles, decided not to seek re-election, and instead stepped down to resume her law practice in Appenbaum. Gramma nominated advisor Paul Crisp to be his next lieutenant, although the state Senate has yet to confirm Mr. Crisp.

Kalnier is a "ticket state," meaning candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on the same ticket or team and are co-elected. Under state law, however, candidates do not have to pick their running mates until after the primary election.

If confirmed, Crisp will run side-by-side with Governor Gramma in the general election. Ms. DeSalle has hinted she will pick former state Senator Paul Myrick (N-East Gale Shore) to be her running mate, though her campaign would not comment on potential candidates for the position. McHugh is rumored to be considering state Representative Sheila DePonzier (N-Krislen Beach), but his campaign also refused to address the speculation.