Brown And Hogan Hold Final Debate
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland's candidates for governor turn up the heat in their third and final televised debate.
Political reporter Pat Warren has more on what was said.
The election is a little more than two weeks away--and it shows.
It was a bare knuckle bout with voters declared the winner.
"I think the voters won tonight because I think they saw a real clear difference," said Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Democratic candidate for governor.
"I think the voters got more out of this one than the two previous ones," said Republican candidate for governor Larry Hogan.
They got a blood sport.
"You were just quoted yesterday as saying that you're going to be a lot like a goalie in Annapolis. Goalies play defense, and you can't play defense and be an effective governor," Brown said.
"I did say I'm going to have to try to play defense, because you know what? The people in Maryland are really tired of a monopoly where you can pretty much just do anything you want with no checks and balances," replied Hogan.
They sparred over the failed Maryland health website.
"When you have adversity or challenges, you don't run away, you don't join those on the sidelines who are rooting for failure," Brown said.
"You talk about, I'm rooting for failure. You know, if I was rooting for failure I would just let you be governor. I care about this state," Hogan replied.
Campaign ads drew a foul.
"He says I want to put assault weapons in the school yards and put them in shopping carts. That's absolutely false," Hogan said.
"You opposed Senate Bill 281, which makes streets safer, and Marylanders ought to know about that. So what part of that is a lie?" asked Brown.
Brown: "I don't want to characterize your commercials, I'm talking about the ads we're putting on."
Hogan: "My commercials are great. Here's what my commercials focus on: they're focused on what Marylanders are focused on."
Brown: "But what you're not focusing on is..."
Hogan: "It's my time now."
Brown: "You flip-flopped on the minimum wage. You flip-flopped on gun control."
Hogan: "I realize you're the lieutenant governor, but it's my turn to talk now."
There will be a lot more talking between now and election day.
Voters start going to the polls on Thursday, the first day of early voting.
In addition to governor, Maryland voters will elect a General Assembly and congressional delegation.
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