WJZ Exclusive: Brown, Hogan, Duel Over Economy In 1st Debate
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland's gubernatorial candidates put their campaigns on the line in the WJZ studios. The candidates' debate moderated by Vic Carter gives Maryland voters a chance to see what each intends to do as governor.
Political reporter Pat Warren has the highlights from when WJZ-TV aired the debate Tuesday night.
For the full recap read BLOG: Md. Gubernatorial Debate Recap
"Maryland voters are concerned about the tone of the governor's race. In fact, it's been called the most negative governor's race in the country," Carter said.
"He's twisting and putting out commercials that are completely false," Hogan said.
"This is not me making this up," Brown responded.
WATCH: The candidates discuss tone of the race |The Full Debate
The candidates discussed the race for governor. For Anthony Brown, it's a call to duty.
"I had the privilege of serving with patriotic men and women in campaigns in service to our country. Today, I'm on a different mission with Ken Ulman. The fight is different but it's just as important to Maryland families," Brown said.
For Larry Hogan, it's a labor of love.
"Folks, I'm not a professional politician. I'm just a small businessman and a life-long Marylander who loves this state. And I'm running for governor because I'm really fed up with politics as usual in Annapolis," Hogan said.
Brown-Ulman is a campaign of strategic successes.
"Together, we've accomplished a great deal in the last several years. We've built the best public schools in the nation. We lead the nation in college affordability. We've driven crime down to levels we haven't seen in four decades and we're one of only six states to come through the recession with a triple-A bond rating," Brown said.
The Hogan-Rutherford campaign is a rescue mission.
"We've lost 8,000 small businesses; unemployment has doubled; 200,000 Marylanders are out of work; we're third in the nation in foreclosures; we've had zero economic growth and our state economy ranks 49th out of 50 states," Hogan said.
Credibility was challenged.
"Let me be clear. I don't see the need...as governor of Maryland to raise taxes. There will be no new taxes in the Brown-Ulman administration," Brown said.
"The last time that you said there's not going to be any taxes, we don't foresee any taxes in the future' was in the last election when you and Martin O'Malley said exactly the same thing. Then you raised 40 taxes in a row that crushed Maryland families and small businesses," Hogan said.
There's a lot of ground to cover.
"This election is not your typical fight between Democrats and Republicans. It's more important than that. This is a fight for Maryland's future," Hogan said.
"And the choice is whether to embrace the vision Ken Ulman and I share with countless Marylanders across the state where we'll get up every morning fighting for working families and middle class values...or whether we favor large corporations and the privileged few," Brown said.
The debate also covers education, crime and the environment.
For the full play by play and clips of the debate broken down by topic, read our blog: Md. Gubernatorial Debate Recap
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