Candidates for the position of California Governor, Democrat Jerry Brown and republican Meg Whitman opened the race for office with the California governor’s debate last night.
Tax cuts, unemployment and job creation were high on the talking points list as the two candidates traded gibes during the debate.
Brown and Whitman have been in a tight race for the seat of governor in the country’s largest state by population. California also has the third-highest rate of unemployment in the US, at 12.4 percent in last month’s records. At three months into the fiscal year, California also remains the only state without at budget. Current governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is reaching the end of his term, cancelled talks with legislators yesterday about how to close the state’s mounting deficit of $19.1 billion.
According to a University of Southern California and LA Times poll released September 26. Brown has a marginal lead of 49 percent over Whitman’s 44 percent of likely voters. The poll has an error margin of 3.3 percent either way.
Brown got the green vote when he detailed his job creation plan centered on investments in solar, wind and other renewable power sources. Whitman said she’d cut spending and lower pension benefits.
Whitman came out of the debate well, despite questions over her inexperience, she held up under questioning. Brown won the popularity contest by bringing humor into the debate.
The candidates will meet again for a second debate on October 2 at California State University ahead of the election on November 2.
