Horsford, Tarkanian duke it out in first congressional debate

Two candidates vying for Nevada's newest congressional seat mirrored the tone of their sharp-edged campaigns with a debate Thursday that included near constant bickering with each other and the moderator.

Democrat Steven Horsford and Republican Danny Tarkanian went head-to-head in a televised debate on "Ralston Reports," with political commentator Jon Ralston.

The debate, one of three scheduled for Congressional District 4, lasted less than 30 minutes, but that didn't stop the candidates from packing in as many shots as possible before the cameras turned off.

At one point Horsford invoked his newest attack ad by calling Tarkanian a "self-proclaimed crazy radical," while Tarkanian repeatedly blamed the Democrat for Nevada's sky-high unemployment rate because Horsford served as state Senate majority leader.

Both candidates at various points sidestepped direct questions from Ralston in favor of squeezing in talking points.

Still, the short session provided a peek into the candidates' strategies.

Horsford, who has a built-in Democratic registration advantage, tried to paint Tarkanian as a right-wing candidate who would change Medicare to the detriment of senior citizens.

Tarkanian, the son of famed basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, sought to present a moderate image and depict Horsford as a candidate with a track record as a politician who raises taxes and fees to the detriment of the economy.

Early in the debate, Ralston asked Horsford what he would do to strengthen the middle class, and Horsford responded by trying to tie Tarkanian to the budget proposals of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.

"What I am not going to do is do what my opponent is proposing, which is to support a Ryan budget which would turn Medicare into a voucher program, all to give a tax break to wealthy people or to maintain corporate subsidies for big banks and big oil companies," he said. "I'm not going to do that. I'm going to fight for the middle class."

After prodding from Ralston to answer the question, Horsford said he would help the middle class by supporting investment in infrastructure such as roads, bridges and schools.

"When people are working, our economy is growing, and that will be my No. 1 focus in Congress," Horsford said.

Given the chance to say what he would do to help the middle class, Tarkanian briefly said, "I agree completely with my opponent," then launched into a long criticism of Horsford's legislative record.

"The problem with his statement is he has a record in Carson City that just doesn't fit that," Tarkanian said. "As a state legislator, all he did when faced with the worst economic crisis in our generation as a majority leader, all he did was propose additional taxes on the middle class."

Between the broadsides the candidates did touch on their own policy positions, albeit briefly.

Tarkanian said he supports maintaining Medicare benefits as they are for people 55 and older and allowing younger people the option of receiving vouchers to pay for care of their choosing.

Tarkanian also deflected accusations of extremism from Horsford by elaborating on his position on the U.S. Department of Education, which Horsford said Tarkanian wants to eliminate.

Tarkanian said he would preserve financial aid for college students and Head Start early childhood programs but cut programs deemed ineffectual.

"Take the rest of that money, give it in block grants in states and allow the states to determine and the localities to determine how to best educate their children," Tarkanian said. "Does that sound extreme?"

Horsford batted back criticism from Tarkanian of his legislative record by pointing out the most recent budget that extended the lifespan of about $600 million in existing taxes was the product of cooperation between both major parties, including popular Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval.

"These are solutions we worked on a bipartisan approach with Governor Sandoval, a Republican mind you, and Republicans in the Legislature," Horsford said. "Why? Because we didn't want to decimate funding for education."

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.