ATLANTA — Karen Handel wants voters in Atlanta's northern suburbs to stick with a Republican in Congress, just like they've done since 1979. Democrat Jon Ossoff says Georgia's 6th Congressional District should make a change.
The two rivals faced-off Tuesday evening in their only prime-time televised debate, two weeks ahead of a June 20 election that has garnered national attention and an avalanche of spending.
Republican Karen Handel says her opponent in a nationally watched Georgia congressional race is nothing but a tool of national Democrats.
Handel mentioned House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California about a dozen times during a Tuesday debate with Jon Ossoff. The two candidates meet in a June 20 special election in Georgia's 6th Congressional District.
Ossoff counters that he's an "independent voice" and will "work with anyone" in Washington. He said it's Handel who is the partisan rubber stamp. He points to her support for President Donald Trump's tax policies and the GOP health care bill pending in the Senate.
The race is viewed as the latest measure of how Trump and the Republican-run Congress are faring with voters outside Washington ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.
Karen Handel & Jon Ossoff 6th District DebateWATCH: Karen Handel and Jon Ossoff face off in the highly-anticipated 6th District debate LIVE ONLY ON Channel 2. (MORE: 6thdistrictdebate.com)
Posted by WSB-TV on Tuesday, June 6, 2017
8:55 p.m. both candidates now get 1 minute for closing remarks.
Handel uses wrap up to have take more shots at Ossoff: "the real Karen Handel or the fake John Ossoff" #WSBDebate
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Ossoff used his "independent voice" line to make the case that he was a different Democrat - does that play in 2017?
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Handel certainly didn't shy away from Trump and she sounded very familiar GOP themes that have worked before
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:53 p.m. What would be the most important thing to keep Georgia's economy strong, or make it stronger?
Handel says repeal and replace Obamacare. Ossoff says wasteful spending.
Handel says her biggest to-do items are Obamacare reform & then tax reform; Ossoff says to go after budget waste
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:51 p.m. What issue will you not bend on?
Asked what they wouldn't give in on in Congress, Handel says tax increases, Ossoff says voting rights #WSBDebate
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:48 p.m. WSB Radio's Condace Pressley asks candidates about reaching across the aisle to get legislation moved forward.
.@condo29 asks Handel which Georgia Democrat she would work with on an issue - Handel doesn't name anyone
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:47 p.m. A viewer question about a livable wage.
Q: Do candidates support a min. wage increase?
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 7, 2017
Ossoff: Yes, should be living wage.
Handel: No, wants business-friendly policies. #WSBdebate
8:46 p.m. Channel 2's Richard Elliot asks about religious freedom laws.
8:40 p.m. Each candidates gets to ask each other a question.
Now they get to ask one question of each other - Ossoff comes back to Komen Foundation issue #WSBDebate
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Handel: "I'm going to be on the front line for fighting for women...I am not going to be lectured by you, John"
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:37 p.m. Channel 2's Justin Farmer asks about President's Trump's tax reform proposal.
Ossoff correctly notes that the Trump tax plan isn't even a full plan yet - White House says no tax details til Sept
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Handel calls for "comprehensive tax reform" - probably disappoints some GA voters as she doesn't mention FairTax
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:33 p.m. AJC's Greg Bluestein asks about infrastructure
Good question right now on infrastructure would be how Handel & Ossoff see the $95 billion cut in Trump budget
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:24 p.m. WSB Radio's Condace Pressley now asking candidates about healthcare. How do you sell the GOP healthcare bill to the 6th District?
.@condo29 to Karen Handel: With AHCA leaving 23M w/o health care, how do you sell the GOP plan to voters in the #GA06? pic.twitter.com/VevGDrVpMR
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 7, 2017
.@condo29 moves into health care; Handel says she gets insurance on exchange, talks about premium/deductible jumps
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Handel: Disagrees with CBO estimate of AHCA. Ossoff: We must protect individuals with pre-existing conditions. #WSBdebate #GA06
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 7, 2017
.@karenhandel responds to @condo29's question on pre-existing conditions. #WSBdebate #GA06 pic.twitter.com/OE7tmLThJ9
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 7, 2017
"I will not be lectured by you or anyone else." - @karenhandel to @ossoff #GA06 #WSBdebate LIVE NOW on Channel 2 & https://t.co/y0milPx6xI pic.twitter.com/opcVvJa5Fh
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 7, 2017
Handel & Ossoff into pre-existing condition question on GOP health bill; Ossoff says bill "guts" pre-existing protections
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:21 p.m. Channel 2's Justin Farmer to candidates: Would you go to war with Iran?
Q: Would you vote for or against war with Iran if intel showed Iran was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon? #WSBdebate #GA06
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 7, 2017
Ossoff: Foreign policy should be "above partisanship"; says Handel flipped in use of force in Syria based on president. #WSBdebate #GA06
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 7, 2017
8:18 p.m. Channel 2's Richard Elliot: Do we still want to be the leader of the free world?
In this debate, Handel not running away from Trump on foreign policy matters; Ossoff labels Trump FP 'weak' #WSBDebate
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:15 p.m. Greg Bluestein asks candidates about where they differ from President Trumps policies.
Handel on Trump: I would like to recommend some Twitter "policy changes" - says Trump should just put his phone down
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
#KarenHandel recommends Twitter police changes for @realDonaldTrump #wsbdebate
— Craig Lucie (@CraigLucie) June 7, 2017
Ossoff to Handel: Why did you oppose the Syria strikes when Obama proposed, but supported when Trump did?
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:10 p.m. Justin Farmer asks about campaign fundraising.
Ossoff says Handel has been bailed out by 'anonymous Washington super PAC's" - Handel plays the Jane Fonda card
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Handel to Ossoff: "Your values are some 3,000 miles away in San Francisco"
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:08 p.m. Condace Pressley asks Handel about fundraising by Greg Gianforte:
.@condo29 asks Handel about fundraising letter about her from Greg Gianforte; Handel - "He is not fundraising for me"
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
Ossoff repeatedly stressing intelligence cooperation on terror; Handel presses for strong military budget to fight IS
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
8:03 p.m. Justin Farmer gives first question about terrorism. Karen Handel goes first.
First topic: National security. #WSBdebate
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 7, 2017
8 p.m. The 6th District Debate gets underway
7:55 p.m. The candidates are in the studio and ready for the debate
Both candidates are here and shared a light moment before the #WSBDebate. We're just minutes away. #GA06 pic.twitter.com/HL9g3StzOn
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) June 6, 2017
7:50 p.m. The candidates have arrived and are preparing to face-off
The candidates are here and ready to face-off! Follow our minute-by-minute blog: https://t.co/Rau3yjnrYC pic.twitter.com/uSAkZDGgXY
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 6, 2017
7:35 p.m. Our panelists are ready to go:
With the #WSBDebate panelists @bluestein @condo29. Tune in at 8pm. #GA06 pic.twitter.com/pEtucc1Y1l
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) June 6, 2017
7:30 p.m. Channel 2's Justin Farmer giving one last look at the script for tonight's debate:
No wasted minutes. #WSBdebate host @JustinFarmerWSB at work a half-hour before the debate begins. #GA06 pic.twitter.com/Oft8t1yVAn
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 6, 2017
6:40 p.m. Channel 2's Richard Elliot and the AJC's Greg Bluestein hold a preshow Facebook live ahead of tonight's debate.
WATCH LIVE: @RElliotWSB & @ajc's @bluestein answer your questions before #WSBdebate https://t.co/XcptiDHiUK pic.twitter.com/ykawOynLaU
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 6, 2017
4:45 p.m. Justin Farmer finishes up rehearsal as he gets ready to moderate tonight's debate:
It's been a good day of prep. I'll try to do you, our viewers, proud tonight in moderating the #WSBDebate #GA06 pic.twitter.com/BpdlJYdBlk
— Justin Farmer (@JustinFarmerWSB) June 6, 2017
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