North Carolina Senate Candidates N.C. State Sen. Kay Hagan, openly gay Chapel Hill businessman Jim Neal, podiatrist Howard Staley and attorney Marcus Williams held a debate on Tuesday. Above, a clip of Neal and Hagan responding to questions on gay rights.
Q Notes has excellent coverage of the event (via Pam’s House Blend). They note:
“In the past, the Hagan campaign has refused to answer questions regarding the senator’s gay rights positions when asked by Q-Notes staff. Hagan has also not spoken directly to LGBT media, standing in stark opposition to Neal’s consistent and open discussion with a wide array of LGBT-focused outlets. Hagan also refused to answer direct questions regarding equality issues from Durham, N.C., blogger Pam Spaulding during an April 1 BlueNC.com live blog. Hagan has also stated she believes marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples, but that the issue should be left up to the states. Staley and Williams, two of three lesser known candidates in the race, employed the use of anti-gay rhetoric in their responses, despite the former’s seemingly positive position on DADT.”
There was at least one moment of shock in the debate, as Hagan claimed she is the nominee.
Responded Neal: “You aren’t running against Elizabeth Dole. You’re not the nominee yet. We’re running in a primary. We have primaries, not coronations, in North Carolina.”
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP…
Senate candidates discuss gay rights [q notes]
NC: Jim Neal and Kay Hagan spar in only televised debate [pam’s house blend]
