As supporters chanted and danced outside, the four principle
Democratic primary candidates met in the last debate in California
before the March 2 election ““ an election which could
potentially determine who will receive the Democratic presidential
nomination.
Candidates John Kerry, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and the
Rev. Al Sharpton came head-to-head at the primary debate Thursday
night at the University of Southern California. The debate, which
was largely dominated by front-runners Kerry and Edwards, covered
issues ranging from the war in Iraq to gay marriage, the economy to
immigration.
Candidates were greeted by excited supporters who lined the
walkway in front of Bovard Auditorium. The debate was sponsored by
CNN and the Los Angeles Times and was hosted by CNN’s Larry
King.
Edwards quickly set the tone for the evening as he strove to
outline the differences between himself and the Kerry.
“We come from different places, and we present different
choices,” Edwards said.
Kerry acknowledged the differences but throughout the debate
attempted to smear the delineation between himself and Edwards.
When confronted about the manner in which the debate was
proceeding, Kerry deflected King’s question saying that the
race should not be between himself and Edwards or any of the other
candidates.
“It’s not even the biggest story,” Kerry said.
“The biggest story today, Larry, are 43 million Americans who
have no health care. The biggest story today is the
people.”
Sharpton and Kucinich played a less vocal role in the debate.
Almost without exception, they always received the last say on each
issue, and occasionally they did not receive the chance to speak at
all.
Kucinich’s remarks started on a more defensive note, as he
spent his first opportunity to speak defending his reasons for
continuing to campaign. He remained hopeful, however, responding
that he was not simply in the election to “make
statements.”
“I’m here to be the next president of the United
States,” Kucinich said, adding that even if his prospects did
not look too likely, the nomination depended on “the people
watching tonight … not the media.”
Sharpton defined himself early as a candidate set apart by his
ethnicity.
“We’ve also got to deal with race, we’ve got
to deal with gender,” Sharpton said, then added, “I
believe in affirmative action.”
The debate covered gay marriage, a touchy subject for many
especially in light of the numerous same-sex marriage licenses that
have been recently issued in San Francisco.
The candidates carefully skirted the issue, tending to place the
focus more on state v. federal rights, though both Kerry and
Edwards clearly stated their belief that marriage was meant to be
between a man and a woman.
The debate turned toward the question of why candidates seemed
to be attacking President Bush more than each other. The candidates
generally said Bush had not fulfilled any of his promises regarding
the war in Iraq or in funding education, and that he had largely
neglected the economy.
Discussion turned then to the war on Iraq and other foreign
policy issues. Edwards and Kerry both supported instituting
programs to establish a new government in Iraq while Kucinich was
very intent on pulling U.S. troops out. Both Kerry and Edwards
voted in the Senate to allow Bush to go to war in 2003.
From foreign policy, the debate turned to domestic issues such
as the current economy. All of the candidates said it is necessary
to improve access to higher education and health care by
eliminating Bush’s tax cuts and instituting more efficient
education and health care programs.
“You look at the rollback of the tax cut, you can afford
the health care plan I’ve laid out, the education
plan,” Kerry said.
Immediately following the debate, Kerry and Edwards found their
supporters waiting for them in impatient anticipation. Kerry was
joined at his rally by former California Gov. Gray Davis. Kerry
urged supporters to continue campaigning for him, despite his
significant lead in the polls.
Edwards held a similar rally at a different part of the
campus.
Erin Templeton, a UCLA English graduate student and a member of
Bruins for Edwards, took a bus with five other members to see
Edwards after the debate.
“I think he did a great job,” she said of
Edward’s performance at the debate. “He’s
obviously the underdog right now, but every time they underestimate
him, he comes back and surprises them. … It’s not over
yet.”