Senate debate walks party line (Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Wed, Aug. 04, 2004

DEMOCRATS


Senate debate walks party line

Democrats chasing the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Bob Graham introduced their campaigns in a debate televised live to the state.

BY BETH REINHARD
[email protected]

WEST PALM BEACH - Meeting for the first time since their party jubilantly crowned presidential nominee John Kerry, three Democrats running for the U.S. Senate jockeyed Tuesday to be the candidate Florida voters align with the top of the ticket.

Former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor supported Kerry's plan to add 40,000 military troops. Congressman Peter Deutsch agreed with Kerry's proposal to adopt the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations. Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas said Kerry would be a leader who could persuade other nations to help rebuild Iraq.

In a debate that was televised live across the state and likely introduced many voters to their campaigns, the candidates largely stuck to a party-line script, revealing few ideological differences among the three leading Democrats in the Aug. 31 primary.

They all said they oppose federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and limitations on Americans visiting relatives in Cuba.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9313000.htm
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