Michaud, Hamel swap barbs in their last debate

BANGOR – U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud and his Republican challenger, Brian Hamel, pulled no punches Friday in the final debate in the 2nd Congressional District race, trading barbs on a wide range of issues, including jobs, the war in Iraq and privatization of Social Security.

The debate, hosted by the NBC affiliates WLBZ 2 Bangor and WCSH 6 Portland, featured some of the campaign’s testier exchanges, with each candidate linking the other to some of his party’s most polarizing figures.

“You’ve gone to that San Francisco liberal kind of mind-set,” Hamel told Michaud, a reference to the congressman’s ties to Democrat Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat whom Michaud said he would support for speaker of the House should Democrats regain control of the chamber.

In his response, Michaud quickly evoked the name of the controversial Republican majority leader, Tom DeLay of Texas, for pushing a vote that would have prevented courts from reviewing whether the phrase “under God” should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“It was a political ploy,” Michaud said of the bill, which Hamel said he would have supported.

“What is it going to be next?” Michaud continued, wary, he said, of one branch of government trying to limit the power of another branch. “It’s a slippery slope.”

Hamel, an Aroostook County business executive, is trying to wrest the seat from the freshman congressman. Recent polls show Michaud with a sizable lead going into the campaign’s waning days, during which both candidates have stepped up their attacks.

During Friday’s debate, Hamel accused Michaud of helping to create the state’s high tax burden and poor job outlook during his more than two decades in the Legislature.

“Mike Michaud was a major player in making that poor business climate a reality,” Hamel said in his closing. “We’re in the worst condition we’ve ever been in.”

Michaud contended that Maine’s tax burden could be alleviated if the federal government stopped imposing unfunded mandates on the state. In making his point, he offered some advice to Hamel, a political novice.

“If Brian’s so worried about the tax burden in Maine, maybe he should run for the state Legislature,” Michaud said.

There were stark differences between the candidates on several issues, including the privatization of Social Security.

Hamel has said he supports the Bush administration’s proposal to allow younger workers to keep some of the money they ordinarily would contribute to Social Security in a private account. Michaud opposes the idea, saying it would weaken the system, and has proposed a constitutional amendment that would prevent privatization.

Michaud also defended his vote against the $87 billion supplemental budget to fund operations in Iraq. He said the bill failed to provide an exit strategy.

Hamel has been critical of the vote, and his recent radio ad features a mother of a soldier serving in Iraq offering her own criticism, saying that if Michaud can’t support the troops, “there’s no way we can support him.”

WCSH-TV anchorman Pat Callaghan moderated the debate.

On the Net: www.michuadforcongress.com; www.hamelforcongress.com.