Friday night was the first time Bill Schuette and Gretchen Whitmer took the stage to debate each other in the gubernatorial race.
Since Primary Day, the two lead candidates have debated and argued through separate soundbites and TV ads, Friday they took to the podium to hold each other accountable, as could be expected it was contentious.
“These are the issues that the people at home want us to address,” says Whitmer, “This is what the governor has to do. Build coalitions not tear down one another.”
The hour long debate featured 12 questions, roads, education and of course water quality were among the most contentious topics.
“Listen, I am the only one on this stage who’s taken action to protect the citizens of Flint and provide accountability,” says Schuette, “I’ve done that and I’ve make no apologies for it.”
Both nominees attacked each other’s work previously in the state.
“Give me a break Bill, if you were doing your job before the cameras showed up, people might have better [auto insurance] rates right now,” says Whitmer.
The answers were much of what we had already heard from the two but the contrast between plans was on display.
“This is a contrast,” says Schuette, “On if Michigan wants to go forward or does Michigan want to go back.”
“We are not to demean one another and demoralize one another,” says Whitmer, “We have to focus on building bridges and fixing problems.”
It will remain to be seen if either moved the needle from voters, but the lines have certainly been drawn.
“Which future do you want to have for Michigan?” says Schuette, “The extreme agenda of Gretchen Whitmer or the paycheck agenda of Bill Schuette?”
As of right now the only other debate scheduled between the two nominees is scheduled for October 24th in Detroit.
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