Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., and Democratic challenger Dan Maffei traded jabs and quick wits in a town-hall style debate Monday night at Syracuse University’s Maxwell Auditorium.

The debate began at 6 p.m. Maffei emphasized Walsh’s voting record in Congress, saying the congressman votes similarly to President George W. Bush’s opinion on issues 92 percent of the time. Walsh, a nine-term incumbent, stressed his service to his district, his willingness to meet with constituents and the unknown results if the public elects Maffei.

Both Maffei and Walsh seemed anxious. Maffei spoke at a hurried pace, trying to squeeze as much information as possible into each two-minute response period. Walsh issued his responses in a more relaxed tone, but tried to rebut Maffei’s claims before moving on to the question at hand.

The debate could be the final meeting between the men before the Nov. 7 election for the U.S. Congress seat for New York’s 25th district.

The candidates promoted points they seemed determined to accentuate regardless of the questions asked by moderators Donna Adamo, an anchor for Syracuse CBS affiliate WTVH, and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs political science professor Robert McClure. More than once, the candidates drifted away from the scope of the original question, which prompted McClure to follow up with more direct questions.

Questions during the hour-long debate ranged from the local economy to Social Security to the war in Iraq. No matter the question, Maffei used the opportunity to bombard the audience with statistics about Walsh. With the numbers, Maffei tried to paint a picture of the incumbent turning his back on the will of his constituents.

‘(Our district) doesn’t approve of George W. Bush,’ Maffei said. ‘We now have clear polling two-thirds don’t approve of his job. I find it kind of odd that (Walsh) meets the people and he still votes with George Bush about 92 percent of the time. It can use a change.’

Walsh continually countered by dismissing Maffei’s tactics and said a vote against him based solely on the situation in Iraq would be ‘short-sighted.’ He pointed out the same strategy could be used against New York’s Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Hilary Clinton, who also voted for the war in 2003.

‘I’m interested in problem solving, not politics,’ Walsh said. ‘The tone my opponent sets – this doom and gloom – is not the way to be successful.’

A poll released by RT Strategies on Oct. 16 shows Maffei leading Walsh, 51 percent to 43 percent with a three percent margin of error. RT Strategies is a division of The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan election newsletter.

The debate began on a light note when Walsh laughed off a multiple-part question from McClure, saying he ‘would expect a question like that from a professor.’ He then launched into an analogy, likening Central New York to a colorful tapestry, and thanked voters for giving him a chance to represent them.

The light mood ended there when Maffei immediately countered Walsh’s answer with information about the similarities between Bush’s and Walsh’s opinions. Maffei challenged tax breaks passed by the Republican-led Congress and instead suggested the tax breaks should be given to smaller companies, not major corporations.

From there, Walsh jumped on the defensive. He often contradicted points made by Maffei, touted his reputation with his constituents and tried to stick in a few attacks on the Democrat, as well.

‘I’ve never betrayed that trust,’ Walsh said. ‘With this fellow, you take your chances. You know what you get with me.’

With both Maffei and Walsh attempting to frame each other as partisan politicians, McClure later posed a question about the candidates’ willingness to deal with the opposing party.

‘The fact of the matter is most people don’t like the party either of you represents,’ McClure said. ‘A pox on both your parties.’

The quip drew laughs from the crowd, but prompted more attacks from Maffei after Walsh insisted he has reached out to both parties in his career and should be considered a moderate. When Walsh talked about a pin showing his seniority in Congress – 90th out of 435 – Maffei immediately pounced on the opportunity to point out again that Walsh votes with Bush about 90 percent of the time.

‘You’re saying you’re moderate, but moderate compared to what?’ Maffei said. ‘If George Bush is moderate, we need to re-evaluate what moderate is.’

After closing statements from both candidates, McClure addressed the audiences in the auditorium and watching live on television. As a professor of citizenship, he said it is his duty to encourage a heightened sense of citizenship, especially through voting.

‘I ask all of you to use your vote,’ McClure said. ‘Vote as you choose, but go vote.’

Published on October 24, 2006 at 12:00 pm