Debate #3

Left: The scene outside Boston's Faneuil Hall, where the debate took place at 7:00 PM today.

And now, some highlights of the hour-long debate, which can be seen here...

7:00
The introduction. The candidates stand closely together, from left to right, Ross, Mihos, Patrick, and Healey. Channel 5 reminds us that this is the third debate between the candidates. Much fanfare for Mihos and Patrick. Ross...not so much. Cheers and boos for Healey. This stays consistent for the hour. The moderator often asks the rowdy audience to be polite and "modest".

7:03
Patrick is asked to respond to Healey's attacks on his advocation on behalf of convicted rapist Benjamin LaGuer. Patrick claims Healey has no perspective on crime, citing her history vs. his. Mihos seizes the moment to attack Healey. Healey questions the accuracy of the statistics Patrick and Mihos have been citing. Patrick doesn't wait to claim there are statistics showing Massachusetts as the most violent state in the Northeast.

7:09
Mihos claims the Democrats and Republicans are hiding statistics.

7:14
Once again, Healey attacks Patrick over the Benjamin LaGuer incident, and says he has the wrong priorities. Patrick claims to be "...the only one up here who's prosecuted someone." Mihos attacks Healey some more.

7:18
Mihos denies he's only running to steal votes from Healey, and attacks the Democrats and Republicans some more. When asked, between Healey and Patrick, which one he agrees with more, he refuses to answer, saying, "I'm winning," and thus it doesn't matter.

Patrick: "I'm in this race because I want a change."

Ross attacks Healey for not being specific about her plans.

7:23
Patrick denies he opposed charter schools. He says he wishes for charter and district schools to "flourish". Ross accuses Patrick of flip-flopping over MCAS. She brings up the dropout rate. Healey defends MCAS. She promotes the creation of charter schools. Patrick says he supports MCAS, but it is "not enough." Mihos claims "everyone" wants to go to charter schools because Healey has "destroyed public education."

Healey: "They are public education!"

7:30
Ross supports raising the minimum wage.

Mihos: "This administration has decimated the middle class, and they're going after everyone else."

Healey vows to sign the No New Taxes Pledge.

Healey: "Everyone else here is trying to raise your taxes."

7:33
Mitt Romney's jokes about Massachusetts he has made while touring the country are discussed. Healey says she loves the state, but dodges a question from Mihos about it.

Mihos (to Healey) : "...you don't love Massachusetts."

Ross: "Taxes have gone through the roof under your administration."

Patrick: "It is hurting us," referring to Romney's remarks.

7:36
Mihos: "I wanna hear real numbers."

Healey: "Deval Patrick has no plan to lower property taxes."

Patrick: "You have a plan to raise property tax."

7:39
Healey claims Patrick is "going to raise taxes, and tax [his] way into prosperity."

7:44
Patrick (to Healey) : "I wish you would read our proposals, instead of just the right-wing's."

Healey: "I have."

Healey (to Patrick) : "You're saying, 'Spend on everything.'."

Ross: "The two of you both have expensive proposals."

7:46
Mihos reminds us he said no to increasing the gas tax by 9 cents.

7:50
Ross says her main goals concern local economic development, health care, and the environment. Mihos mentions his Proposition One, which can be viewed at http://christy2006.com, his campaign site. He also says he will protect higher education, tourism, and health care. Patrick says he will focus on health care and education reform. Healey does not name her top three, but invites the audience to visit her campaign site, http://healeycommittee.com, to see her goals.

7:52
Final statements.

Ross: "I will make sure you keep your job, keep your home..."

Healey: "Deval Patrick and I have some things in common."

Patrick will not sign No New Taxes. Healey promises not to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

Patrick: "We have a choice to make - same old, same old, or real change."

He says he wants to unite, not divide, the state.

Patrick: "I ask for your help."

Two more gubernatorial debates are scheduled.