Smith v. Davis

It was the Democrats' turn last night in Tampa.

In the first debate televised statewide between the Democratic contenders for governor, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis slammed state Sen. Rod Smith as a candidate bought and paid for by corporate interests.

At least I go to work, Smith shot back, defending his independence and leadership and pointing to Davis' second-worst attendance record in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith also knocked Davis for once voting against compensating two wrongfully convicted black men.

It was a take-that kind of debate, loaded with more policy details than the Republican matchup the night before, with both Davis and Smith drilling into each other's political vulnerabilities.

[...]

Both candidates agreed that electronic voting machines should produce receipts, and that felons should automatically get to vote again after they serve their sentences. Smith and Davis also agree on making sure the state builds enough classrooms and hires enough teachers to fulfill the class-size limits added to the Florida Constitution in 2002.

Neither candidate directly answered a question about how he would close the "achievement gap" between white and minority students. Smith decried the state's emphasis on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, calling schools "FCAT prep centers."

In response to a question about U.S. policy on Cuban immigration, Davis said the "wet-foot/dry-foot" policy was unjust.

Smith argued that Haitian immigrants should get to stay in the United States if they reach land.

Compared to the Republicans the night before, the Democrats were more wonkish in discussing policy rather than the hysterical liberal-bashing that went on between Gallagher and Crist.

That's the problem with the Democrats; all they do is get into these discussions on how to actually run the state and who benefits from state programs. Where's the fun in that?