Presidential Debate Has Local Dems Calling for Local Debates

10/3/2012 (Updated 11:41:24 PM)

The economy, job creation, social security, health care, deficit, regulation of banks, Wall Street, and taxation.

All topics that were argued Wednesday in the first of the presidential debates.  Both candidates were in Denver and, as expected, economic issues were the core of the encounter.

Local Democrats were closely watching the debate tonight at their local headquarters on Court Street in Binghamton.

While agreeing with the overall theme of much of the debate, the need for job  creation.  Party members also seized on the presidential debate to criticize Broome County Executive Debbie Preston, and other Republicans, for what they say is their refusal to have an open debate with Democratic challenger Tarik Abdelazim.

We were not able to obtain an immediate response from Debbie Preston late Wednesday evening.

So far, the only debate between the two candidates was at a Chamber of Commerce event,  which reporters were not allowed to record or broadcast, and cost $20 or more per seat.