Congressional Candidates Debate

10/21/2012 (Updated 10/22/2012 11:54:32 AM)

BINGHAMTON -- It was a packed house today at the Temple Concord in Binghamton as Republican Incumbent Richard Hanna faced off with Democratic challenger Dan Lamb. The candidates focused on several issues, including Medicare.

"I want to save Medicare.  That's what we should have done instead of this affordable healthcare bill," said Hanna.

"I'm for maintaining the traditional benefits of the Medicare program which has served seniors so well," said Dan Lamb.

Another big topic was job creation. Lamb said that renewable energy could lead to hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

"We've got to stop depending on fossil fuels to power so much of this country.  We're getting behind other nations," said Lamb.

Hanna, on the other hand, said it would cost the government too much money to pay for renewable energy jobs.

"You can't just throw money at the wall, call it green energy and fall in love with it.  You have to do cost benefits on things," said Hanna.

At the end of the debate, both candidates said they were confident with how it went. Lamb said that he is in touch with what the community needs.

"I can identify with the farming needs, I can identify with the college needs.  I came here for college over 24 years ago.  I know how important access to education is and how important preserving our programs that take care of seniors," said Lamb.

Hanna said that the race is fundamentally about who has the best plan to rebuild the middle class.

"As a union member, as a father, as a guy who started from the ground up and built what he has and has done well, my goal is to see to it that my kids do the same, and his kids, and anyone with children in New York state," said Hanna.

Some of the undecided audience members told us that today's debate helped them.

"I did get some better opinions on what they believe and quite honestly they're not that far apart other than their political affiliations," said undecided voter Neisen Luks.

The next time that Lamb and Hanna will face off in a debate is on October 30th at Broome Community College, and then the election is on November 6th.

Samantha McDonald, Fox 40 News.

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