Things To Know About Wisconsin Governor's Debate
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke meet Friday in Eau Claire for the first of two debates before the Nov. 4 election. Some things to know:
WHERE CAN I WATCH THE DEBATE?
The one-hour debate begins at 7 p.m. and is being broadcast live on about 100 radio and television stations, including statewide on public television as well as nationally on C-SPAN. The list of stations carrying the debate can be found on the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation website at www.wi-broadcasters.org.
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WHO IS ASKING THE QUESTIONS?
The debate's moderator is veteran broadcast journalist Jill Geisler with questions coming from a panel of reporters including Judy Clark of WEAU-TV in Eau Claire; Keith Edwards of WQOW/WXOW-TV in Eau Claire; Mike Thompson of WKBT-TV in La Crosse; and Shawn Johnson of Wisconsin Public Radio.
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WHAT ARE WALKER AND BURKE'S PLANS?
Walker has said he wants to focus on his vision for the next four years. Burke said she sees the debate as an opportunity for voters across the state to get to know her and the differences between her and Walker.
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WHAT WILL THEY TALK ABOUT?
Expect a flurry of contrasting data, accusations and plans related to job creation and the economy, women's issues and abortion rights, education and expanding school vouchers, the environment and mining, tax policy, Medicaid expansion and the federal health care overhaul, the investigation into Walker's 2012 recall campaign over alleged illegal campaign coordination with conservative groups and the merits of Burke's jobs plan that includes portions copied from other Democratic candidates.
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WHAT'S NEXT?
There will be a second and final debate on Oct. 17 in Milwaukee. In between, on Wednesday, another Marquette University Law School poll will be released and it will reflect voters' opinions after the first debate. Last week's poll showed Walker with a narrow 5-point margin over Burke. The poll had a 4.1-percentage-point margin of error.
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