U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and his Republican challenger Tim Michels continued to prove as opposite as the North and South Poles in their third of six planned debates prior to the Nov. 2 Senate election.
From gay rights to the war in Iraq to the USA Patriot Act, the two candidates differed on many issues. Michels said gays and lesbians should be treated just like other Americans, but then stated his opposition to same-sex marriage.
\When you bring it out of your house and onto the public street, that's where I differ,"" Michels said. ""I believe in traditional family values.""
Feingold replied that Michels' statements confused him and the government should be focusing on other priorities.
On the issue of national security, Feingold echoed arguments made by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in his debates with President Bush-that the war in Iraq is shifting attention away from al-Qaida. Feingold said while he is open to supporting a pre-emptive strike on a nation posing a threat to U.S. security, Iraq was not such a case. Feingold also said the Patriot Act, which Michels supports, leads to too many violations of civil liberties.
""You have the wrong priorities when it comes to national security,"" Feingold told Michels.
The challenger countered by stating Feingold was distorting his position by implying Michels had no qualms with pre-emptive wars. He also used the Patriot Act to question Feingold's leadership abilities.
""We can win this war on terror, but we need to have leaders in the U.S. Senate who are willing to make the difficult decision,"" Michels said.
The two candidates also differed away from the debate arena as new spending reports from the Federal Election Commission showed Feingold has raised almost $10 million and has a $1.27 million advantage over Michels, according to the Associated Press. With the election still weeks away, Feingold has already raised and spent double what he did in his last election, while Michels expects a boost from an appearance by former President George H.W. Bush at a fund-raiser this week.
