senator. what brought me to public service was the notion that america everybody ought to get a fair shot. we can guarantee success but we ought to get a fair shot. we are going to maintain a sense of opportunity in our country we have to have people in politics or were willing to work together. that's what i did as your governor. we turned a deficit into a surplus in virginia was named best managed state in the best state for business. i brought that same bipartisan approach to the senate. that's why i'm so proud to have the support of the gentleman who held the office before me republican senator john warner and why have more former republican legislator supporting me this campaign than when i first ran. in the senate i worked on trying to take on the challenge of our debt and deficit to make sure patients get the care they deserve bringing jobs back to virginia and making sure young people aren't crushed by student debt. and you know what? on every major piece of legislation i worked on i s

senate debate. south dakota voters have heard a e state's this'e immigration program. >> our question to the candidates is, will you work with grassley to improve the program, or should the program be eliminated? >> based on what we have seen in south dakota, i am hard-pressed to say i would support the program. we have seen all of the things that folks are really weary of, everything from missing millions s and we dostigation not know if governor brown's is a target of the investigation. million like the $1.6 that his company took from the committee would be worth looking at. i believe it transcends honesty and integrity. takes winnersself and losers, and in south dakota, south dakota taxpayers are the losers and the winners -- the winner seems to be friends and cronies with -- of former governor rounds. i think it is time that we do something different in washington, d.c.. that is something different, not send more of the same career politicians, but send someone who has got the record of standing

senate. tonight, they will debate the issues in the studio. one-hour live u.s. senate debate begins now. >> live from the studios of kobi tv in oregon, a u.s. senate debate featuring jeff merkley and republican challenger dr. monica wehby. brought to you by aarp. discover your real possibilities. the oregon association of realtors, protecting your piece of oregon. and working always to better the communities where we live. and now, your host and moderator for tonight's debate, news director craig smullin. >> oregon voters will decide who will represent them in washington dc and this is the only schedule debate. the path to capitol hill goes through our studios tonight. i like to thank you both for joining us. before we begin, let's meet our candidates. she is a mother of four in portland. and the director of pediatric newer surgery. the granddaughter of a lebanese immigrant, she was the first woman to graduate from a medical school program as a neurosurgeon. a leader in her field, she has bee

senator roberts. ksn.hank you again to president obama said about a week ago that this election was about a referendum on his policies, his program, and his agenda. his legacy, if you will come and that is certainly true. there is only one way that we are going to stop the obama-read agenda, and that is to elect a republican majority. many different leaders across our party have come to my assistance and endorsement not because it is me, this is not about me it is about the future of the country, and they have endorsed me because they know that i will vote for a republican majority in the dictatorship by harry reid and agenda. obama-reid about this time tomorrow night, my opponent is going to have to enter new york at a $5,000 a plate fundraiser with the soros family. going with him is an agenda meant -- is an adjustment by the afl cio, so waving the banner and going to a fundraiser come i have never known the soros independents.rse they endorse liberal democrats, and so does the afl-cio. >> thank you

it's been passed by the senate with bipartisan support from both senator ayotte, senator mccain. that would strengthen our border, a 700-mile fence, double the number of border agents, more money for surveillance and interdiction. that's what we should be doing and the house should take up that bill. >> and i just want to be precise on this one point. when you said, "i guarantee you we would not be worrying about ebola right now had been mitt romney been president of the united states," you stand by that. >> with all respect, what i said is we were talking about many different issues. we were talking about obamacare. we were talking about him being right on russia. and i have said and i will say it again, had he been in charge we would have a clear and concise policy as to what we're going to do, where we're going, and how we can help. now with regard to immigration - >> let me interrupt, senator. but you also said, "we would not be worrying about ebola right now romney had been president." >> no. that's taken out of context. >> it's not taken out of context. this was in a fox ne

bipartisan support from both senator ayotte and senator mccain. that would strengthen our border, 700-mile fence. double the number of border agents, more money for surveillance and interdiction. that's what we should be doing. and the house should take up that bill. >> and i just want to be precise on this one point. when you said "i guarantee you we would not be worrying about ebola right now, had mitt romney been president of the united states," you stand by that. >> with all respect, what i said is, we were talking about many different issues. we were talking about obamacare, we were talking about him being right on russia. and i have said and i will say again, had he been in charge, we would have a clear and concise policy as to what we're going to do, where we're going, and how we can help. now with regard to immigration -- >> let me interrupt, senator. you also said we would not be worrying about ebola right now if romney had been president. >> no, that's taken out of context. >> it's not taken out of context. this was in the fox news inter

not in this senate because the way that senator reid has led the senate has prohibited that. so as a beginning point i would say that every united states senator has the opportunity to present their case, votes occur and we determine what the senate's will is on behalf of the american people. so process matters. it sounds like something inside the beltway. but when people tell me they're fed up with washington, d.c., a significant reason is nothing gets done. and the reason is harry reid, the leader prevents anything from getting done. but i think you would look at in my view what this senate has done nothing about is jobs. the idea that we can create policies that enhance the chances that more americans have stability in their jobs, have a greater sense that they are going to keep their job, that there is a better job down the road. perhaps equally important is most people who talk to me today don't ask for something. when i visit with kansasens in particular but americans as well, very few people come to me and say i need this from government. would you provide me with this

senate race. among incumbent democratic republican pryor, candidate cotton, independent france, and independent swainy. then virginia mark warner and ed gillespie. then kentucky senator mitch mcconnell and alison grimes. ive today on c-span. >> here are just a few of the comments we've recently received from our viewers. > the gentleman from the nra supporting the so-called second amendment. the gentleman that handled the questions never went back to the fact that this man did not answer the two questions fully. are the answer what - why the nra does not support background checks at our gun shows and they didn't answer fully how much money the nra is getting from the gun manufacturers and other friends. you guys don't support or don't -- present the opposite viewpoint, i'm going to stop watching c-span. you're supposed to be independent. don't get that. >> thank you so much for having hosted chris cox from the national rifle association earlier today. i was able to get into the show. i was the fir

senator shaheen gets to ask senator brown a question. >> senator, i think one of the problems is we encourage companies to outsource our jobs. we provide tax credits for companies that ship jobs overseas. when you are in the senate, you voted to reward those company to ship jobs overseas. here in new hampshire, we have the highest percentage of jobs that have been shipped to china. in the country. why in the world would you support outsourcing overseas? >> thank for your question, senator. i have never voted to outsource jobs. interesting, -- it is interesting, when you're talking about outsourcing jobs, the only person on the stage who has done that is senator shaheen when she was the governor, she took a program for food stamps and outsourced it to india. it was an opportunity to keep good paying jobs in our state and she chose not to do that. that being said, i think outsourcing has a lot of different meanings. when you actually were elected, you said you would be an independent senator. and you outsource the independence by voting with the president over 99% of the time. in addition to th

not in the senate. the weight senator reid has led the senate prohibits that. i would say every united states senator has the opportunity to present their case. we determine what the outcome, what the sentence will is on behalf of the american people. process matters. it sounds like something inside the beltway, but when people tell me they are fed up with washington, d.c., a significant part of the reason they are fed up is that nothing gets done, and the reason nothing gets done is that harry reid, the majority leader, pre-habits anything from getting done. there is a starting point. the senate has done nothing about jobs, the idea that we can create policy that enhance the chances that more americans have stability, a greater sense they will keep their jobs, that there is a better job down the road. most people who talk to me today don't ask for something. this it with the people of kansas, bury people -- married you people say i need this from the government. i am worried about my kids and grandkids. what is the country going to be like when they are older?

senator hagan did. she voted for indiscriminate cuts that are harming our military and jobs. 20,002 30,000 jobs. i would have opposed the leadership. there are a number of modern examples. the big issue with the government is it is broke. she would have allowed senator reed to shut down legislation. >> it is the part of the debate were you ask each other western. senator hagan will receive the first question. do you have a question? ask last week president obama said all of his holidays are on the ballot in this election. you voted with the president 96% of the time. my question is now that you claim to be a moderate, which of the policies you supported do you regret? >> as far as the president's policies on the ballot, i don't think you understand two things. one, i don't think you know my record. it is being effective to the people of north carolina. your idea of being effective is tax cut for the wealthy, getting public education by $500 million. that is a fact. the fact you have made college more ex

i believe that la franken is one of the most partisan senators in the senate. >> why have senator rogerker, a republican mississippi in the th me to reign credit agencies on wall street. >> may i answer? >> go quickly. >> i see common ground when i can. but i also stand my ground when i -- when they come after the middle class, and this is where mr. mcfadden and i fundamentally disagree. i think the economy works in the middle out. i work want to work for the middle class and those aspiring middle class. >> hang on a second. we're talking about partisanship. >> i'm for raising the minimum wage. >> a study came out and they ranked senators from 1 to 100 in terms of their ability to co-sponsor legislation across the aisle. you were ranked last place. my dad always said look at actions. >> according to that constituent -- it statistic, ted cruz is one of the most bipartisan members of the senate. >> ted cruz voted with his party 87% of the time. i've got ted cruz's voting record here. >> if you look at voting, there's a bell curve and, al, you are an outliar. >> when president obama was el

in the senate. and again, don't take my word in terms of sequestration. the navy gave me their highest civilian award for fighting against the sequestration cuts. we've made some progress. we've restored a lot of the funding for our ship repair contracts and the whole delegation hung together and i opposed the president on this, on making sure that george washington, one of our aircraft carriers, got refueled. important for hampton roads and national defense. the way we're going to get rid of sequestration, it comes rushing back next year, is recognizing that when we've got $17 trillion in debt and it goes up $3 billion a night, we can't keep punting. 1% increase in interest rates, that alone adds $120 billion a year off the top that could be spent on aircraft carriers or education or roads or n.i.h. and the challenge is going to be, everyone who's looked that the issue, the one place again where i have dug in the deepest is on our nation's financials. i did it as governor -- finances. i did as gove

he was a very challenging primary for this senator. senator roberts narrowly won. he was a troubled candidate. he had been posted to the internet -- he was a damaged candidate, but really dug into roberts on a couple of points. winrder for roberts to coming he had to alienate a bunch of tea party people. --the general election sometimes candidates drive to the middle towards victory. roberts is pushing back to the outside to try to reclaim those tea party votes. -- theyparty expressed endorsed roberts. occur, i would be surprised. it is certainly possible. host: i want to show our viewers 's recent ad against the greg orman, trying to president obama. [video clip] debt.llions in new obamacare. nearly 10 million americans unemployed. --ack obama says >> these policies are -- >> his candidate> greg orman. a vote for greg orman is a vote for the obama agenda. is that strategy working for pat roberts? two people in kansas believe that? caner: a couple of points be made. the president is not very popular in a very conservative republican state like kansas. senator rober

picture was taken when we were negotiating a 50-50 senate. don't know what was funny about 50-50 at the time. thought thatint, i we still had the majority, but that was in my office. this is another example -- leaders now, i doubt if they ever grace each other's offices. he came to my office and i would to his office. what a small thing to do. how ridiculous would you be if you would not go to the other leader's office. but that was one of the things that we did to keep an easy relationship. by the way, sitting at that desk, we laughed, and we cried some, too. >> i was thinking that senator daschle said that senator jeffords had just rated parties. -- traded parties. >> yeah, that's true. >> you both served in the house, it has been said that the senate is the saucer that cools the hot coffee. just seems to be dysfunctional. you have alluded to it. do you think it is personality? do you think it is partisanship? what you think is driving this? >> i think it is an array of things. it is partisanship, it is personality, it is the times. i think

as senate majority leader. you make your first vote for him as opposed to voting for someone favoring our state? >> reporter: even if she hasn't gotten every vote she wanted, landrieu's influence has won her some real successes. in addition to opening up more area for drilling, she also helped get one of the few export terminals for liquefied natural gas through washington's regulatory maze. >> i helped walk the permit through when the country was, we're not sure, we're not sure, i said what do you mean you're not sure? >> reporter: the plant construction on the river about an hour away from lake charles employs 4,000 workers. when up and running, it will employ 600. >> why would the people of louisiana give up this energy gavel right at the time when we've got the power to design an energy policy for this country that recognizes the blessing of natural gas, there's a bridge fuel to the future. we're proud -- i am proud of the oil and gas industry and their accomplishments. but we also want to move to alternati

i will be that senator. >> senator mcconnell, you have answered this. you've also talked about the economy and i think you will grant you are not an economist. still hold the position you are not a scientist? -- does that we should you believe we should even be discussing climate change? >> there are a bunch a scientist who believe there's a problem. back in thewrote 70's that a lot a scientist felt were moving toward an ice age. look, i think the main thing to understand here is the job of the state senator from kentucky is to fight for coal jobs in our state and this administration has destroyed 7000 of them. it is not surprising that secretary grimes has had the support of the miners association. they support all democrats. tobill, if i might -- i hope interrupt. we have the use it -- this administration, mitch mcconnell has failed to see he has a role in all of the jobs that have been lost. it happened on your watch. been there 30 years a you do not want to take any responsibility. and the lack of benefits our miners and families are having to fight

senate race. our guests are kentucky ecretary of state alison lundergren grimes of the republican party. >> you have labeled senator mcconnell as senator gridlock. and stated in one press release that his message is clear, six more years of partisan and gridlock in washington, d.c. enator mcconnell you, in turn, you said that secretary grimes is an obama liberal. what would convince voters that you would be an independent voice in washington and would not support the president's agenda for 22 years. >> kentuckians know my report and i want to thank you, bill, and k.e.t. they know the record i have. my record is one of putting the people of kentucky first. i have my disagreements with the president. his energy philosophy wrongly ruling by executive order. the president is not on the ballot this year. it's myself and senator mcconnell. and he doesn't want to take responsibility for all that's wrong in washington, d.c. washington isn't working for kentucky. and it's due the gridlock, the that ction a

senate. his approach my way or the highway leads to things like fiscal cliffs and shutting down the government. leadership in washington involves walking across the aisle. and congressman, you don't have the reputation, the ability or the desire to get things done in washington. >> mr. la france. >> thank you, sir. i can tell you that i feel no entitlement to this united states senate seat. but you are entitled to this senate seat. you, the voters, you the people of arkansas, this is your seat and i want to help you take it back. my key item -- my key project will be to get washington out of our lives as much as possible. when this country was founded, they did not want a so site where every decision you make, every turn you take you have to think about what the federal restricting and regulations are here, what regulations are there. this is not a free society where we can own our own lives and our own future. now, freedom is hard work. it takes sacrifice. politicians in washington today, th

i was the most bipartisan senator in the united states senate. every survey has senator shaheen as being one of the most partisan senators. she has voted with the president 99% of the time. what does that mean for new hampshire? she was the deciding vote for obama care. she voted for every -- deductibles are going up dramatically. costs are going up. care coverage is going down. she has voted to put in place a system where we have more and more gridlock by voting with her party over 99% of the time. that is part of the problem. >> senator brown, you help propel you to the u.s. senate, tens of thousands of residents are now eligible for health insurance under the state medicaid expansion plan. you have said you wanted to repeal the law. how did you tell these people they no longer have health insurance. >> you are assuming obamacare is the only answer. we have the ability to develop a plan that addresses those concerns. we can address what you reference, pre-existing care, covering kids to a certain age. dealing with catastrophic care and coverage

alison for senate. host: by the way, dvr alert. october 13, week from monday, 8:00 eastern time, the first and only debate in that kentucky senate race. we will have it for you live on c-span and on c-span radio. that's a week from monday, october 13. for allowing them us to carry that debate for the rest of the country to see what is happening. north carolina, on the republican line, good morning. caller: good morning. i have a small question on the economy. democrats are bragging on how well it is doing. that would be the 1% in this country. everybody knows that wall street ain't in mississippi. let'st comes to that, really look and see who are the rich and affluent in this country. and in the senate races here in north carolina, kay hagan is all for middle eastern oil instead of oil out of this country. so, republicans, just remember when it comes time, tom gillis is your man. he will be the one to fix this they. thank you -- this state. thank you, c-span. my homehe knock against state aside, this is sort of -- back to your orig

senate. so if you take a look at those efforts the way things are supposed to be done in the country and they championed those efforts, however, you did have the president go out for political reasons and that is an important distinction to make. it's the fact that republicans want things to be done legislatively the way that the constitution dictates and not through unilateral action like the president has done often during election time. >> [inaudible] that's what i'm telling you. it's the fact that the program was enacted by the president unilaterally, not legislatively like the way the laws are done in the country. >> should have any importance at all in this election? [inaudible] we actually asked about the motivation to participate in this election we find no difference that they are going to vote i think it's interesting because there was a lot of concern that they were not going to turnout the vote. turn out the vote. that may mean we don't see a change when we finally get the statist

with the second debate for the iowa senate seat. facing stateis senator joni ernst. senator tom is retiring after five terms. the race is listed as a tossup. jones it -- joni ernst is with us. hoping to win one of the most hotly contested races in the nation. >> i go to washington as a mom and a soldier. >> i will work with anybody who will help solve the tough albums we face. >> the campaign is getting national headlines. >> let's make them squeal. seat longwin a key held by a democrat. ernst taking on bruce braley. still too close to call. as the, head to head country watches. decision 2014. debate for i will up a senator owa's nextfor i was - senator. >> those of you watching are waiting to hear from candidates in the hottest, closest senate races in the u.s. history. one that experts say maky determine control of the senate. they are locked in a dead heat for the seat of tom harkin. the winner will be the first new senator and 30 years for iowa. from ourl be questions panel of journalists, each with decades of experience in iowa, in a format aimed at giving candi

i'm not run the senate. harry reid and mitch mcconnell are run the senate. if i were we would have had a vote. >> her leading republican opponent bill cassidy thinks that's the problem. >> she's been ineffe ineffectua. she said her top priority was getting a senate vote on keystone xl pipeline. she was unable to do that. but she's also said her first vote will be for senator harry reid's re-election as senate majority leader. why would you make your first vote for him as opposed to voting for someone favoring our state? >> even if she hasn't gotten every vote she wanted, landrieu's influence has won her some real successes. in addition to opening up more area for drilling, she also helped get one of the few export terminals for liquified natural gas through washington's regulatory maze. >> i helped walk the shenier permit through when the country was, we're not sure. we're not sure. what do you mean you're not sure? >> the shenier plant construction on the sabine river, about an hour away from lake charles, employs 4,000 workers. when up and running, it will

it's true with every senator. i don't think there's anybody from the top leadership to the most senior members who don't want to get a lot done. this is a case where what starts to happen his politics gets in the way so when you say we will have a fannie freddie reform bill and i don't know the details of that for the context but when someone says okay we want to have an amendment and put the democrats for obama camp is and it has difficulty in deciding whether to support this or not, that is what leads people to say leadership to say we are not really going to do this. if we are going to take staff and stop giving health care to our staff like most employers do in the country we are not going to do that. it's irresponsible to do it like they want us to do. democrats much more responsible for sure but we will do political things to mackinac republicans will say wait a minute we don't have to vote on these things. that ends up shutting down the process. the only way you can get around it is when people say you know

senate. we've accomplished a lot. challenged with the floods and fires. we've stood up and been raggedy collaborators. i've been proud to be part that. economy is coming back. there is more work to be done. we need to pass the minimum wage and respect women's place in the workplace. elections are about the future. competitions about vision and policy in style. there is a clear set of choices in the selection grid congressman gardner talks at representing a new generation. do generation believes in marriage equality and immigration reform. it believes in women's reproductive rights. it believes in climate change. the new generation does not stand with congressman gardner. he doesn't believe in those things. vote on november 4 because working together, we can keep this state moving forward. thank you. [applause] campaign 2014 is bringing in more than 100 debates for control of congress. you can follow us on twitter. >> the conversation on women and the november elections. president ofto the pro

senator. i'd like to take arkansas's senate seat that is up for election this year and give it back to you, the voters, and the citizens of arkansas. right now, a hundred out of a hundred seats in the senate are controlled by interest groups of an array of areas and backgrounds. one thing that associates them all is big money, big donations, big campaigns, big influence in washington, d.c.. you are going to influence my decisions in washington. what is best for you? what is best for americans and america? that will be what guides my decisions. one big issue i'd like to focus on is term limits. for all members of the united states congress. that would help end this perpetual cycle of fund raising, doling out benefits to big donors, fund raising again. i think we have to make big structural changes in washington and with your support i will work to make it happen. >> next question from mr. hedlund goes first for mr. cotton. >> congressman cotton, for those who have served in washington, you and

senator hagan has rubberstamped down reid's policy to shut the senate. save these tough votes until after the election. you need to understand. the laying the mandate and the are all election issues on the ballot, and you have an opportunity to stop it. mandate is one the ballot. >> i think we need to talk about the keystone pipeline. i have rooted against trade against trade deals because they said too many jobs overseas. speaker tillis would have supported a budget that would turn medicare into a voucher program. he would have supported sequestration. he would have supported a government shutdown. he would have supported a government shutdown in north carolina at the height of our fishing season in the east. at is what speaker tillis would have done. haganm glad senator brought up sequestration. i wouldn't have supported that. senator hagan did. she voted for indiscriminate cap -- cuts that are harming our military and jobs. 20,002 30,000 jobs. i would have opposed the leadership. there are a number of modern examples. the big issue with the government

>> senator? >> i sorry. aviation taxes. jobs are involved with aviation. .he industry can get along fine this administration, again and again, puts aviation taxes on the industry. it is not what washington can do for you. it is what they can do against you. i am the champion of aviation. are corporatere jets, i was on the floor and said, sorry, that is not right. we had a personal discussion about it. >> i and the only person on the stage who has created private sector jobs. i am qualified to talk about businessese sector need. i have put forward a small business plan. i talk about rolling back dodd frank regulations on community and regional banks. they want people -- they were not the people involved in bringing us to the brink of disaster. we should not punish them and industries that serve the aviation industry. we talk about rolling back regulation and having a review of regulation every 10 years. ofmakes sure that the kind regulations that were imposed on businesses are doing what they were

senate. chances in that effort would go way up if they are able to defeat republican incumbent senator mitch mccome in kentucky. mcconnell has been getting attacked record. >> where was he? he didn't show up to vote on troop funding, the farm bill, and the va on days he found time for a lobbyist fundraiser and was on two t.v. shows. >> this week, a kentucky reporter asked democratic challenger alison grimes who is running that ad how many days she missed as secretary of state. here is the exchange. >> i will stack my record up against mitch mcconnell's any day. attendance. state. >> i have done my job as secretary of state. we are excited to be here today to launch our military. >> let's -- >> thank you. >> strategists point out it's not a good idea to attack somebody on one issue and not be willing to answer questions about that issue, yourself. we are going to take a closer look at the kentucky senate race and all of the money that's being spent on the other side of this break and later, th

senate. for republicans to take over the senate, their clearest path to victory flows this way. first, they take south dakota, montana, and west virginia. then they work their way through alaska, followed by a march into the deep south to try to capture arkansas and louisiana. ask then up to iowa. let's take a look at the face us of the contenders who populate this path to victory if the republicans get it. and discuss a counter attack. south dakota, a three-way race, rick whelan, and the senator for many years, along with mike rounds. an average shows rounds with a double-digit lead. montana, democrat amanda curtis versus steve danes, the polling average has danes with a double-digit lead as well. west virginia, republican cap toe maintains a healthy lead. so let's say republicans win these three. now it starts to get harder for them. the following races are all close. alaska, mark begins versus dan silva. sullivan is up by a hair. to the deep south, mark pryor and tom cotton are neck and neck right now. on to louisiana where the state's open primary format has the incumbent fe

senator ernst disagrees. she doesn't think we need greater background checks that will protect people from being the victims of gun violence. people need to know where we stand on these issues. the second amendment is like the others in the bill of rights. it is a balance between individual liberty and public good. that is why it starts out with, in order to have a well-regulated militia. she doesn't think we should have to go through a permit process to carry a concealed weapon. and, that you should be able to take it into a bar or church. i think that is wrong. >> i am a mother of three daughters. anytime we hear of violence, it is a tragedy. i am a strong supporter of the second amendment. i think we need to enforce the gun control laws we have on the books right now. there is an underlying issue that goes along with much of the gun violence. that is of mental health. i am a huge supporter of finding ways to improve our mental health system. i have done that here in the state of iowa with mental health ref

senate how important? well, both parties, both candidates and campaigns have chipped in $43 million at this point. so you can tell that they understand it. >> it's a seat to go after and a seat to defend. david, i think you would like this guy. i spent a great backyard chat with michael kerr a, a long-time writer and political observer in anchorage. he said alaskans are very aware they could be in the spotlight. >> there is some interest in the idea that we could be the swing state or we might be able to decide things and the fact that because of the way the elections work up here, i think 20 to 25% of the votes will not be counted on election night. they will be for various reasons not coming until later. people say we are going to nolex night. we are not unless it's a very one-sided election. >> it could be another week or so? >> yeah. >> or more. >> we may have to wait a bit to find out how beggage wins, elected by about 4,000 votes in a close race six years ago. dan sullivan, the republican challenger

senate not having served a full state senate term. statewide, illinois voters have rejected you repeatedly. what is new or different about jim oberweis now that makes you think you can win and serve now? me pointof all, let out that in all the races i have run -- i have one half of the races if you count primaries and general. i never come in below second and that is in races where we have five candidates, nine candidates and so on. the voters have continued to support those campaigns at different levels. i believe as and onto for newer, i make mistakes and i admit that. entrepreneurs learn from those mistakes and they do better. >> what have you learned? >> i learned it is very important to carefully communicate your positions because people like senator durbin are much smoother talkers than i'll ever be and he will distort those issues like he tries to do with my home where i have lived for 37 years. i never said that was not my permanent address. under the law, i had to allow only one home exemption. it is not a homestead exemption

senator. what brought me to public service was the notion everybody in america ought to get a fair shot. we can't guarantee success, but you ought to get a fair shot. if we're going to maintain that in our country, we've got to have people in politics that are willing to work together. that's what i did as your governor. with a 2-1 republican legislature, we turned a deficit into a surplus and virginia was named best managed state and the best state for business. i brought that same bipartisan approach to the senate. that's why i'm so proud to have the support of the gentleman who held this before mr. republican senator john warner. and i've got more former republican legislators representing me this campaign than when i first ran. i've tried to take on our debt and deficit. bringing jobs back to virginia and making sure young people aren't crushed by student debt. you know what? on every major piece of legislation i work on, i start with the republican partner. my opponent has a different app

senate. >> could i have just a quick follow-up? said the national journal -- survey, it identifies you two years running as the most conservative united states senator. i think many people or member in idaho you are viewed as a pragmatic conservative. now you have appeared to have evolved into an ideologue. what has happened? >> i would disagree with that appearance. that votea few of us conservatively, and this will come as a great shock, but we are from conservative states. to come from conservative state, whether it's utah, wyoming, oklahoma, texas, south carolina -- we vote conservatively. and even in these polls, i lined up at the conservative end of the spectrum. i will continue voting theervatively to represent conservative ideals. ,nd rubber, 60% of idaho ends as you know, identify themselves as either very conservative or somewhat conservative. i feel like i'm giving exactly what idahoans want. >> could i respond just briefly echo >> yes, 15 seconds. >> thank you. the conservative ra

first, senator roberts said the senate is the problem. i agree the senate is run poorly. harry reid is running it like a dictatorship. the house has similar problems. david camp, chairman of the committee on taxation, put together a tax reform bill got his own chamber would not even take up because it was a difficult issue. the senate passed an immigration bill that 14 republican senators agreed with. senators, i will tell you, who agreed with my position on immigration, including guys like john mccain, the house wouldn't take that bill up. both parties are to blame. both chambers of congress are acting in an overly political way. as it relates to higher education, i believe thaze -- this is an example of a policy failure in our government. we spend over $100 million a year on guaranteed student loans, pell grants, scholarships all with the goal of making , higher education more affordable, yet we don't hold colleges and universities accountable for that will public policy goal. i think we need to say to colleges and universities who get taxpayer money for that specific g

senators. now it is one of three senate office buildings. less than half of the senators are in this building. the others are spread out in the hart building. it is a gorgeous building. this is built in the french beaux-arts style. the whole capitol complex was neoclassical. george washington wanted a neoclassical city. he picked the design of the white house and for the capital. he wanted a marble city. they've been in philadelphia. they even renamed a lot of the physical features in the new washington, d.c., after famous roman places. so jenkins hill became capital line hill. and gooseberry creek became the tiber river that ran through the middle of washington. they wanted to give a stature to this new government. the first major republic since the roman republic in their eyes. this was a new city for a new government. it was mostly tobacco fields and empty spaces. so they gave it a grand name and planned out major streets. that was the style. it slowly built the city. in the 1890's, there was a major exposition in chicago, the white city

senate. that is why i am honored to have the endorsement of john warner who held this job for 30 years. and had more former legislators endorsing me this race than when i ran the first time. in the senate i have wrestled with issues like bringing down the debt and deficit. making sure veterans get the care they deserve, bringing jobs back to virginia and making sure young people do not get crushed i student debt. on every issue that i have worked on i always start with a republican partner because that is how you get things done. my opponent has a different approach. he spent his whole career as a d.c. lobbyist and partisan political operative. he sees every issue -- he even went out and called himself a partisan leader. i do not know about you but the last thing washington needs is another partisan lawyer in either political party. the world needs a strong american. economically, militarily, and morally. you have to have leaders that can work together. thank you. >> thank you. we will go to

senate debate took place between democratic incumbent senator jeanne shaheen and challenger former senator scott brown. she approves of the job president obama is doing. here's a look at that exchange. >> in some ways, i proven some things i don't approve. , unlike both questions that we deal with as policymakers, there are not simple answers. well, i may put it this way. you said you're the candidate for the citizens of new hampshire. scott brown often says, i don't need to tell you you've it with president obama 99% of the time. because obama's approval ratings are at an all-time low in new hampshire right now, how does your voting record jive with serving the citizens of new hampshire? i work for new hampshire. scott brown talks about one survey and 99% of the time that i voted with the president, but the numbers i am proudest of our the 359 -- 259 people who are now working at the prison because i was able to get the prison open after it sat empty for two years. 1200 people being foreclosed on in their homes who our office worked with to keep in their homes. the 129,000 veterans who ca

the problem with the senate -- within the senate. the problem with the senate is it is gridlocked because you have people like senator shaheen and others who vote with their party 99% of the time. i was the most bipartisan senator there. we did a veterans jobs bill. you can get things done, but you have to step back from partisanship. >> this idea of an outside seems like thet hardest decision. >> congress should be able to do this. it should be a bipartisan effort in congress, but one problem is we have gridlocked as the rules of the senate allow people to filibuster. scott brown voted for 44 filibusters during his three years in the senate. that is more than we had in the whole country between 1917 and 1968, over 50 years. we cannot afford that kind of gridlock. that is why it has been difficult to get things done. we need to work together. that is what i support. that is what i tried to do. >> senator brown, you said you are pro-choice, but you cosponsored the blunt amendment that allows employers to deny contraception to employee

he is the richest member of congress, house, and senate. number two, mike mccall, texas republican, 118 million. john delany, 112 million, four, colorado democrat, 74 million. number five, scott peters, california democrat, 45 million. number six, washington democrat, 38 million. number seven veteran buchanan, florida republican, 37 million. eight, shelly pingry maine democrat, 34 million. number nine, gary miller, california republican, 33 million. number 10, nancy pell oh see, california democrat, 29 million. why does congress attract millionaires do you think, tom? >> i think a big issue is a lot of people who are millionaires have financial flexibility to be able to run for office and to be able to take time out and investment of time that takes campaigning. >> and money. >> and the money. at the same time if you look at people who are wealthy they tend to be a lot of the time in positions of ceos or positions where they have a lot of influence. moving into national level leadership position perhaps to some degree is an extension to tha

senator shaheen? >> the fact is energy is very important to our businesses, that's why c i'll work hard as governor to lower energy prices in new hampshire and why i'm supporting energy efficiency legislation in washington that would address the cheapest, fastest way to deal with our energy needs which is under efficiency. is just wrong, i don't support a national energy tax. indicatedckers have that that's a false accusation. and i do support nuke lower power, i voted for legislation i was on the energy complete in the senate to nuclear power. plus if you believe in climate change and believe you have to you gottaat, then have nuclear power as part of that energy mix. younge concern about the woman that my opponent talks about has to do with the kinds areolicies that we supporting and what my opponent supported when he was in washington. corporateed the special interests. we need to support our middle class families, we need the the minimum wage, women need to get equal pay for equal work. opponent o