WGNO

No media ‘gotcha moments’, candidates supplied fireworks in final debate

BATON ROUGE, La. (WGNO) — There was no media “gotcha moment” in Monday nights debate between Senator David Vitter and State Rep. John Bel Edwards.  Both candidates came ready to tear into the other.  At one point, the moderators brought up Vitter’s past, personal problems.  But numerous other times, the subject was broached by the candidates themselves.

The above video link will show you some — but not all — of the exchanges between Vitter and Edwards.

Nexstar Broadcasting aired the debate using workers from its Baton Rouge and Shreveport stations.  WGNO’s sister station, WNOL, aired the debate in New Orleans.

The debate also included the topic of allowing 14 Syrian refugees into Louisiana.  Both candidates said they have concerns.  Vitter said he expressed his concerns long before last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris.  He added that Edwards had changed his stance on the refugee issue on more than one occasion.  Edwards said Vitter should have done more to prevent the refugees from being allowed to settle in Louisiana.

The pair also sparred over who is more pro-life, pro-business, and pro-T.O.P.S..

The runoff election is this Saturday.  Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

30.458283-91.14032