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Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren debate in ...

Wednesday October 10, 2012

2:57

Mandy Hofmockel:

Join us just before 7 p.m. tonight for Springfield's Senate debate with Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. MassLive.com will host a live stream of the event and a live chat here for readers to contribute their questions and comments.

Hours before the event, political supporters set up signs in the rain outside Symphony Hall, and Brown dropped a 30-second TV ad crafted especially for the Springfield. What the candidates say tonight could shape the rest of the race since both have used what's said during debates as fodder for attacks and advertising.

For complete Senate race coverage, visit masslive.com/massachusetts-senate-race.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 2:57 Mandy Hofmockel

5:16	Mandy Hofmockel @mandyhofmockel RT @newspix100: Scene outside Springfield Symphony Hall for Senate debate #masendebate bit.ly/SQRcLP Wednesday October 10, 2012 5:16 mandyhofmockel

5:37	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Big night in Springfield with the Brown-Warren debate in less than 90 minutes. Follow @masslivenews for live stream & chat. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 5:37 ed_kubosiak

6:01	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Crowd at Symphony Hall is filling in quickly. Great atmosphere in the historic hall tonight. #westernma, #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:01 ed_kubosiak

6:13	Don Treeger @newspix100 Latest scene #masendebate #westernma outside Springfield Symphony Hall at Senate debate pic.twitter.com/4WOnpSZK Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:13 newspix100

6:23	Robert Rizzuto @RRizzuto413 Elizabeth Warren parades with supporters outside #MaSendebate in Springfield pic.twitter.com/dieBpxBg Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:23 RRizzuto413

6:32	Which topic do you most hope the candidates will address tonight? issues relating to western Massachusetts ( 0% ) jobs and unemployment ( 100% ) women's issues ( 0% ) health care ( 0% ) taxes and the deficit ( 0% ) bipartisanship in Congress ( 0% ) Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:32

6:44

Mandy Hofmockel:

Welcome to MassLive.com's Senate debate live chat. For those following along on Twitter, search the hashtag #masendebate for additional conversation.
During tonight's debate you'll likely hear from our political reporters Robert Rizzuto and Shira Schoenberg as well as MassLive.com staff, including myself and Erik Gallant.
But we'd also like to hear from our readers. Submit your comments and concerns to the live chat and they could show up here.
After the debate stick with us for a breakdown of what happened with political analysts Ryan McCollum and Anthony Cignoli.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:44 Mandy Hofmockel

6:50	Shira Schoenberg @shiraschoenberg NARAL Pro-Choice America endorses Elizabeth Warren before #MASenDebate. Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:50 shiraschoenberg

6:54

Shira Schoenberg:

Western Massachusetts voters wish they got this kind of attention year-round. http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/western_massachusetts_voters_r.html#incart_river_default

Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:54 Shira Schoenberg

6:55

Mandy Hofmockel:

Tonight's moderator Jim Madigan, of the local PBS affiliate WGBY, addresses the audience at Symphony Hall.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:55 Mandy Hofmockel

6:55

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan's asking the audience to keep it quiet during the hour-long debate.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:55 Mandy Hofmockel

6:58

Mandy Hofmockel:

Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren take to the stage to audience applause before the debate begins.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 6:58 Mandy Hofmockel

7:01	Robert Rizzuto @RRizzuto413 Follow @cbs3springfield for live tweets of the #MaSenDebate in Springfield! Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:01 RRizzuto413

7:01

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan says there are more than 2,600 people in attendance tonight.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:01 Mandy Hofmockel

7:02

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: What will you do if elected to support job growth?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:02 Mandy Hofmockel

7:04

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: Unemployment is a serious problem. Short term we have to put people back to work. In the long term it's going to be about making the right investments (i.e. in infrastructure and education).

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:04 Mandy Hofmockel

7:04

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren starts out by criticizing Brown for voting against 3 Democratic-sponsored jobs bills. Here's the background on Brown's record on jobs: http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/new_scott_brown_ad_touts_vote.html

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:04 Shira Schoenberg

7:05

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown says he opposed the Democratic jobs bills because they would have raised taxes

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:05 Shira Schoenberg

7:06

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: Brown stood with the millionaires, not those who are out of work.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:06 Mandy Hofmockel

7:07	masslivenews @masslivenews Live online video of the @elizabethforma vs. @ScottBrownMA debate is rolling: bit.ly/ThopKE #masendebate #mapoli Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:07 masslivenews

7:07

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: Overall, what do we do about continuing health care costs?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:07 Mandy Hofmockel

7:09

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: I was proud as a state senator to work on our (Mass.) health care bill. The federal bill raises taxes and it cuts from medicare. I believe everybody should have health care.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:09 Mandy Hofmockel

7:10

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown walking the same fine line as Mitt Romney: supporting Massachusetts' health care reform while opposing the federal Affordable Care Act. Brown says the ACA raises taxes, and the federal government shouldn't tell states what to do

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:10 Shira Schoenberg

7:10

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: Brown's made it clear his first job will be to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:10 Mandy Hofmockel

7:11

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren responds by stressing the benefits of Affordable Care Act - funding research, lowering costs for seniors.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:11 Shira Schoenberg

7:12	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Debate is moving quickly and is focused over first 10 minutes. First cheers/jeers from the crowd on healthcare debate. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:12 ed_kubosiak

7:12

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: What would you do to address the soaring costs of college?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:12 Mandy Hofmockel

7:13	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak College debt question is next up ... question resonates with several in crowd near me. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:13 ed_kubosiak

7:14

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: We live in a world where there is far to little investment particularly in higher education. I want to say that this is about priorities. Students are having to pick up more and more of the costs of student loans.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:14 Mandy Hofmockel

7:14

Shira Schoenberg:

Factcheck: Warren attacks Brown for voting against freezing student loan rates. Actually, both candidates supported freezing student loan interest rates, but they disagreed on how to pay for the freeze http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/massachusetts_democrats_attack.html.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:14 Shira Schoenberg

7:15	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Brown dings Warren on her $350K yearly salary at Harvard, cites rise in adminstrative costs as major factor in rise in costs. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:15 ed_kubosiak

7:15

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown gets personal, tying high rate of college tuition to benefits like Warren's salary and the 0-interest rate loan she received as a professor at Harvard Law School

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:15 Shira Schoenberg

7:16

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: I'm proud to have made it where I made it in my profession.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:16 Mandy Hofmockel

7:17

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: We passed a bill to keep student interest rates low. We did it together.

Brown stresses bipartisanship.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:17 Mandy Hofmockel

7:17

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: What should the role of the federal government be in education? How would you help local schools?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:17 Mandy Hofmockel

7:18

Shira Schoenberg:

Both candidates are sprinkling their responses with references to Springfield and Western Mass

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:18 Shira Schoenberg

7:19

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: We have opportunities where local businesses are working with college-age students.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:19 Mandy Hofmockel

7:20

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown criticizes unfunded mandates from state and federal government. Warren talks about the need for a strong federal partner and federal investment in education.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:20 Shira Schoenberg

7:20

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: A good federal partner can put money into STEM. Looking down to even younger kids. We need to invest in headstart. We need to invest in our children.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:20 Mandy Hofmockel

7:21

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: I've been working very hard to find ways to provide a good value for our dollar and stretch those dollars.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:21 Mandy Hofmockel

7:22

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: To deal with the federal deficit, what are two federal programs that you would cut and two that you would work to protect?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:22 Mandy Hofmockel

7:23

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren would cut agriculture subsidy programs and the military budget. She would not cut Medicare or Social Security benefits.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:23 Shira Schoenberg

7:23	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Warren targets cutting military spending, draws mix of cheers and boos from the crowd. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:23 ed_kubosiak

7:25

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: When you talk about cutting military spending, we've already cut a half a trillion dollars there. I would sell federal property and repeal Obamacare.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:25 Mandy Hofmockel

7:25

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown would cut Obama’s health care reform, sell federal unused property and give the president a line item veto. He would not cut military spending any further.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:25 Shira Schoenberg

7:27

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: What do you mean when you say middle class?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:27 Mandy Hofmockel

7:27

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: I don't think it's a value issue. I think it has to do with income.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:27 Mandy Hofmockel

7:27	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Brown says military cuts will hurt Barnes and Westover locally in Westsern Mass. #westernma #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:27 ed_kubosiak

7:27

Shira Schoenberg:

Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren spar over this NFIB study http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/fact_check_scott_browns_calim.html of Obama's tax policies

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:27 Shira Schoenberg

7:28

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown brings up Warren's past legal clients, including Traveler's Insurance.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:28 Mandy Hofmockel

7:28

Mandy Hofmockel:

This week, Brown's campaign announced it http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/sen_scott_browns_campaign_decl.html" target="_blank">
would not release a list of his past legal clients. Warren only released a partial list of hers.
For more context on Warren's past clients, check out MassLive.com's previous coverage on her work for http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/sen_scott_brown_takes_aim_at_e.html" target="_blank">
Traveler's Insurance and http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/scott_brown_criticizes_elizabe.html" target="_blank">
LTV Steel. In addition to those cases, political reporters Robert Rizzuto and Shira Schoenberg also summarized her http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/us_senate_candidate_elizabeth_warren_represented_diverse_groups_in_supreme_court_cases.html" target="_blank">
work on four others.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:28 Mandy Hofmockel

7:29

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: The middle class is people who work hard. They play by the rules.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:29 Mandy Hofmockel

7:30

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: We need to invest in ourselves and our kids.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:30 Mandy Hofmockel

7:31

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: It's your regulations and your policies are hurting the middle class.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:31 Mandy Hofmockel

7:32

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren addresses fighting for financial reform at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:32 Mandy Hofmockel

7:32	Dan Kennedy @dankennedy_nu Madigan’s a terrific moderator, and crowd does candidates no favors with their disrespect. #masen #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:32 dankennedy_nu

7:32

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown gets booed when he takes credit for being the deciding vote on the Dodd-Frank financial reform act. Warren accuses Brown of working after the vote to undermine the reforms.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:32 Shira Schoenberg

7:33

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren: I would not support eliminating the mortgage tax deduction.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:33 Shira Schoenberg

7:34

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: On the Buffett rule, Brown voted with the billionaires, not the secretaries.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:34 Mandy Hofmockel

7:35

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: We shouldn't be raising taxes on anybody. We're in a fiscal and financial emergency right now.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:35 Mandy Hofmockel

7:35

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown: I’m not going to be raising taxes on anyone in Massachusetts or in the United States.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:35 Shira Schoenberg

7:36

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: We need to have comprehensive tax reform, a top to bottom review of our tax code.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:36 Mandy Hofmockel

7:36

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown warns that eliminating subsidies for energy companies would be passed on to consumers. He says we "need to do a top to bottom review of our tax code."

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:36 Shira Schoenberg

7:37

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: I think I just heard Brown say he's taken a pledge to work for Grover Norquist. He's got the wrong priorities.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:37 Mandy Hofmockel

7:37

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: I think we need to have a comprehensive approach to this. The only way to get it done is to get it done together.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:37 Mandy Hofmockel

7:38

Mandy Hofmockel:

And the next question is on women's issues.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:38 Mandy Hofmockel

7:39

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: We're both pro-choice. I'm one of the main sponsors of the Violence Against Women Act.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:39 Mandy Hofmockel

7:39

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown stresses his pro-choice credentials. Here's an in-depth look at Brown's position on abortion http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/sen_scott_brown_is_a_pro-choic.html

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:39 Shira Schoenberg

7:40

Mandy Hofmockel:

On abortion, Brown and Warren are both pro-choice, but Brown is pro-choice with a number of exceptions. He's supported by both pro-choice and pro-life groups whereas Warren's been endorsed by Planned Parenthood.
On the Blunt Amendment, which The Associated Press writes would have let "employers or health insurers to deny coverage for services they say violate their moral or religious beliefs, including birth control," Brown co-sponsored the bill, saying it "is an issue of religious freedom." Warren argued against the amendment, calling it "a new attack that threatens everyone’s health care."

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:40 Mandy Hofmockel

7:40

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: The women of Mass. need a senator they can count on not some of the time, but all of the time.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:40 Mandy Hofmockel

7:41

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren talks up Brown's support for the Blunt Amendment http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/scott_brown_defends_defeated_b.html, and Paycheck Fairness Act http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/sen_scott_brown_joins_gop_in_s.html

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:41 Shira Schoenberg

7:41

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: We should not be fighting about equal pay for equal work and access to birth control in 2012.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:41 Mandy Hofmockel

7:41

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: I'm not going to pit Catholics against their faith.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:41 Mandy Hofmockel

7:42

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: This is about how the senator votes. He had one chance to vote for equal pay for equal work and he voted against it. These votes matter. Roe vs. Wade may hang in the balance.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:42 Mandy Hofmockel

7:44

Mandy Hofmockel:

Madigan: Mitt Romney now wants a larger role for the U.S. in Syria. What should we do in that country?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:44 Mandy Hofmockel

7:44

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: Syrian president Assad needs to go. Iran can't be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:44 Mandy Hofmockel

7:45

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "needs to go"

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:45 Shira Schoenberg

7:45

Mandy Hofmockel:

Both candidates told The Associated Press Syrian President Bashir Assad can't remain in power, but they gave different answers when it came to arming the opposition.
In July, both candidates answered 10 foriegn policy questions marking their stances on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, China and more. You'll find that full Q&A here: http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/07/sen_scott_brown_and_elizabeth_13.html.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:45 Mandy Hofmockel

7:45	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Warren ties herself closely to President Obama on foreign policy, including Iran & Syria. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:45 ed_kubosiak

7:46

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: I want to make sure our soldiers have the tools they need. We can't afford to cut anymore there. We can't allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. Assad (in Syria) does need to go.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:46 Mandy Hofmockel

7:47

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown agrees Assad must go. Both Warren and Brown agree Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:47 Shira Schoenberg

7:47	Kimberly Atkins @KimberlyEAtkins Warren's answer on women's issues perhaps her best in any debate. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:47 KimberlyEAtkins

7:48

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: I have three older brothers who served in the military. That's why I believe the best we can do for the military is be clear and careful when we ask them to go to war.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:48 Mandy Hofmockel

7:49

Mandy Hofmockel:

The next question has to do with cuts to the deficit and military spending.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:49 Mandy Hofmockel

7:50

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown says he won't put Westover in jeopardy because of a political agenda.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:50 Mandy Hofmockel

7:51

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: We both want to protect the military, but we have a big deficit. Across the board cuts for the military is the worst possible way we could go. I'm prepared to get out there and fight for Westover.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:51 Mandy Hofmockel

7:51	Adam Reilly @reillyadam Let's start a campaign to get Jim Madigan on a presidential debate! Who's with me?? #masendebate #itsmadigantime Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:51 reillyadam

7:52

Shira Schoenberg:

Both candidates support saving jobs at Westover AFB

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:52 Shira Schoenberg

7:52

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: When you're talking about our military you have to get serious. It would be devastating to lose services (on military bases) in Mass.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:52 Mandy Hofmockel

7:53

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: We need to get more money on the table and get serious about reshaping our military budget.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:53 Mandy Hofmockel

7:53

Mandy Hofmockel:

Now for closing statements.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:53 Mandy Hofmockel

7:54

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: There are many challenges here in western Mass. That's why I was here after the tornado. I've been working hard in a truly bipartisan manner.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:54 Mandy Hofmockel

7:54

Shira Schoenberg:

Brown shoutout to Western Mass: After the tornado I was here.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:54 Shira Schoenberg

7:55

Mandy Hofmockel:

Brown: Warren says we need to raise taxes, but we can't do that. I can't do this alone. I'd appreciate your vote.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:55 Mandy Hofmockel

7:55

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: Our drive out to western Mass. today was a reminder on what this race is about. It's about our children and our grandchildren.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:55 Mandy Hofmockel

7:56

Mandy Hofmockel:

Warren: If everybody pays their fair share, we can make investments in the future (i.e. in infrastructure, education and research).

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:56 Mandy Hofmockel

7:56

Shira Schoenberg:

Warren shoutout to Western Mass: Driving in Springfield, same road we took to Jiminy Peak, reminds her that the campaign is about kids and grandkids

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:56 Shira Schoenberg

7:57

Shira Schoenberg:

What do you think of the debate? Leave your comments below!

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:57 Shira Schoenberg

7:57

Mandy Hofmockel:

At the end of the debate, the audience erupts into applause.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:57 Mandy Hofmockel

7:57	Ed Kubosiak @ed_kubosiak Big, big cheers after Warren's closing statement as Symphony Hall erupts. Follow analysis on @masslivenews. #masendebate Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:57 ed_kubosiak

7:58

Mandy Hofmockel:

Stick with us for a breakdown of the debate with analysts.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 7:58 Mandy Hofmockel

8:01

MassLive.com:

With the debate concluded, we now shift gears for some analysis and commentary from political strategists Anthony Cignoli and Ryan McCollum.

Tony and Ryan will give their take on the debate, but we want to hear from you, too. Share your opinions with us here and we’ll try to get to as many as possible.

Our conversation will start shortly.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:01 MassLive.com

8:02

Anthony Cignoli:

Hello, this is Tony Cignoli, thank you for joining us tonight.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:02 Anthony Cignoli

8:04

Anthony Cignoli:

This was a rock 'em, sock 'em debate, they both were great on substance and both scored well.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:04 Anthony Cignoli

8:05

Anthony Cignoli:

Warren scored strongly on jobs, first question of the debate. Jobs were necessary not only in Massachusetts but also Western Massachusetts. Both candidates realize Western Massachusetts is where they could win this election.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:05 Anthony Cignoli

8:06

Ryan McCollum:

Hello this is Ryan McCollum from RMC Strategies, thanks for joining us!

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:06 Ryan McCollum

8:06

Anthony Cignoli:

Brown did well in trying to make his responses Western Mass. centric. He made more Western Mass. references than most Western Mass. residents would be able to do.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:06 Anthony Cignoli

8:07

Anthony Cignoli:

From Milano's to MassMutual.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:07 Anthony Cignoli

8:08

MassLive.com:

Question for Ryan and Tony: How do you grade each candidates performance tonight on a scale from A+ to F?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:08 MassLive.com

8:08

Ryan McCollum:

I would give them both a B...they both did what they needed to do

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:08 Ryan McCollum

8:09

Anthony Cignoli:

Both had good substance and appealed to the 18% of the independent voters.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:09 Anthony Cignoli

8:09

Anthony Cignoli:

Both candidates were well prepped.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:09 Anthony Cignoli

8:09

Ryan McCollum:

A thing to remember is though they both received a B it was their 3rd time taking the test...they both were disciplined and you can tell they took the instruction well.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:09 Ryan McCollum

8:10

MassLive.com:

Was there anything new in tonight's debate that wasn't covered in the prior two?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:10 MassLive.com

8:10

Anthony Cignoli:

The way that they answered was different. They were much more specific, taking their queue from the presidential debate.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:10 Anthony Cignoli

8:12

Ryan McCollum:

This was the first big national debate since the Presidential. What Ms. Warren did a great job at was placing Senator Brown into the Romney camp and saying to the Senator "...it was a lie then and it is a lie now"

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:12 Ryan McCollum

8:12

[Comment From Pete Gillen Pete Gillen : ]

Good debate from two solid candidates. I thought Madigan was a strong mediator and liked how he allowed them a little bit of give and take. I like to see their natural responses not just to questions, but to each other. Thoughts on their interplay back and forth? I feel like Prof. Warren rattled Sen. Brown a bit, he certainly got through it, but he was shaken for a bit.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:12 Pete Gillen

8:14

Ryan McCollum:

Following people on Twitter and Facebook they were so impressed Madigan even at the National level. One guy even suggested Jim should now host "Meet The Press."

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:14 Ryan McCollum

8:14

Anthony Cignoli:

The big winners tonight were Jim Madigan as moderator, he was strong. It allowed both candidates to take some liberties with each other and go beyond their prepared answers, The Springfield Forum and local media also big winners tonight.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:14 Anthony Cignoli

8:15

[Comment From Mitch Mitch : ]

Seemed to me Warren lost points when the BRAC question came. She reverted to discussing non-military issues rather than staying on topic. Agree?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:15 Mitch

8:16

Ryan McCollum:

Not as much that she lost points but Brown won on that because it is so in his bailiwick...he is a Colonel in the National Guard and on the Armed Services committee. She did recover a bit when she spoke on unneeded spending.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:16 Ryan McCollum

8:17

Anthony Cignoli:

Brown won that issue. As a U.S. Senator he can say he is working on the issue, not just talking about it. Warren recovered with the C5A answer. She doesn't come off as too much of a hawk but comes across as understanding the necessity of a Westover and what it means to the Western Mass. economy.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:17 Anthony Cignoli

8:17

[Comment From tim tim : ]

i'cant believe these debates sway anyone's vote either way at this point.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:17 tim

8:18

Anthony Cignoli:

That's old line thought. They do sway votes now. It's not just what happens in the debate but what happens after on Twitter and Facebook. This is the debate that mattered for the 18% of voters that are undecided.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:18 Anthony Cignoli

8:20

Ryan McCollum:

Simply if this debate does not sway them, than what would. It seems simple but this was a big time chance to sway folks who are still undecided.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:20 Ryan McCollum

8:20

Anthony Cignoli:

The last debate impacted that undecided group. This is the debate that both candidates needed to score with the undecided group that decided this race the last time when Sen. Brown won.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:20 Anthony Cignoli

8:20

[Comment From Maggie Maggie : ]

As an undecided voter, what is the one thing I should take away from this debate from each candidate?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:20 Maggie

8:23

Anthony Cignoli:

If you were undecided tonight there are clear cut differences between the candidates. They agree on Roe v. Wade, but on college debt and how to pay for it they are completely different. On job creation, healthcare and on college debt they are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Warren attacked Brown for not voting for the jobs bill. Brown attacked her on the bill costing taxpayers on the bill costing taxpayers $450 million in taxes. It's either your wallet, your heart or your kids that will motivate undecided voters.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:23 Anthony Cignoli

8:24

Ryan McCollum:

If you are undecided at this point the overall themes of the candidates are opposite as Tony says. The role of government in our lives is really where it comes down to. If you think the government is too big, taxes you too much and wastes money you are with Brown. If you believe that there is a role for government to play to provide opportunity to all you will probably be with Elizabeth Warren.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:24 Ryan McCollum

8:25

Anthony Cignoli:

Warren has sharpened her message over the past several weeks. Warren had her A game tonight, and she did not have her A game in the last debate.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:25 Anthony Cignoli

8:27

Ryan McCollum:

The Dem's tend to have a better ground game than the R's and this race is no different. There are Dems who voted for Brown last race who are now undecided and that is probably because they have been touched by the campaign in some shape or form. Especially with surrogates. If you are a due paying Springfield Police union member and you get a call from Congressman Neal asking you to vote for Elizabeth even though you voted for Brown last time...it makes you think.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:27 Ryan McCollum

8:28

MassLive.com:

How about "watercooler moments" in tonight's debate? What lines or moments will people be talking about tomorrow?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:28 MassLive.com

8:30

Anthony Cignoli:

Warren: "Instead of endorsing the Buffet Rule you're for the Newt Gingrich loophole."

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:30 Anthony Cignoli

8:30

Ryan McCollum:

Great line by Ms. Warren that resonated was:

"Massachusetts women deserve a Senator that is not with them some of the time but ....all of the time"

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:30 Ryan McCollum

8:33

Anthony Cignoli:

Warren hit him on delivering for Wall Street, Brown had an answer. When I fight for Wall Street that was fighting for Mass Mutual. This resonated with Western Mass. voters.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:33 Anthony Cignoli

8:33

Ryan McCollum:

Also at the watercolors in WMass they will be speaking about how Brown seemed to know Western Mass...citing Mass Mutual, Friendlys, Milanos, Barnes etc.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:33 Ryan McCollum

8:33

MassLive.com:

Brown got a reaction from the crowd on the line: "You talk about [the middle class] getting hammered -- Professor Warren, I suggest you put down the hammer."

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:33 MassLive.com

8:34

[Comment From JJ JJ : ]

Great debate!!!! As a moderate I thought that Senator Brown did a better job of coming up with better responses and preaching his bipartisan efforts. I thought Professor Warren did a good job with women's rights and she was very appealing to middle class. I side with Brown because I think Warren is just preaching the basic democratic line of "I'm for the middle class because I want to raise taxes on the rich". I really won't be disappointed with either of them, but I'm voting for Brown. Good luck to both candidates!!!

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:34 JJ

8:37

Ryan McCollum:

JJ...Elizabeth obviously came in with the game plan to secure her base. President Obama by the latest polls is up 30 points here. She worked hard to Republicanize Senator Brown and she did so very well at times especially when speaking about the Grover Norquist---"No Tax Pledge"...that is why she was preaching the democratic line...

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:37 Ryan McCollum

8:37

Anthony Cignoli:

Warren's specifics were stellar this evening, the best so far in this campaign. Brown did well enough to appeal to his base but she scored gigantic on women's issues. He scored in talking about his own personal background, but when it came down to specifics on votes, like equal pay for equal work, she won with women voters.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:37 Anthony Cignoli

8:37

Ryan McCollum:

I can see a Grover Norquist commercial soon by the way...

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:37 Ryan McCollum

8:39

MassLive.com:

Last question for Ryan and Tony: What's next for the campaigns coming out of this debates?

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:39 MassLive.com

8:43

Ryan McCollum:

Final thoughts...are that it is wonderful that we in MA and have these two national level candidates to choose from. I think the race will tighten even more with the 18% undecided move to 8-10% undecided. I think Elizabeth has the advantage because her ground game is stronger and there are more registered Dem's who claim to be undecided which for her should be simpler to bring back under the tent. Scott's advantage is that folks may want to balance their ballots and may be voting for Obama and feel they need to vote for Brown so that there is not a down the column vote for one party or the other....

This is fun and we will see what happens...

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:43 Ryan McCollum

8:43

Anthony Cignoli:

This was the kind of debate that will help undecided voters get over their doubts about either candidate. It's the post debate effort from the campaigns and the media coverage now that will help move this race over the next few days so that even those who did not watch the debate will be able to form an opinion on what happened in Springfield tonight. Both candidates showed enough clear distinction on their differences to give voters cause to vote one way or the other based no pocket book issues, or heart strings.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:43 Anthony Cignoli

8:45

MassLive.com:

Thank you everyone for reading. Sorry we didn't have time to get to every question, but thank you all for participating. Watch MassLive.com's Politics page for more coverage of tonight's debate.

Wednesday October 10, 2012 8:45 MassLive.com

8:56

Writer: MassLive.com

Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren debate in Springfield

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