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Schatz, Hanabusa meet in final TV debate

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GEORGE F. LEE / 2013
Brian Schatz

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa faced off Thursday night in the final televised debate in their primary battle for the Democratic Party nomination for Senate.

The one-hour debate on Hawaii News Now and co-sponsored by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser focused on a wide range of issues, including the candidates’ record in Congress, veterans’ health care, and international affairs, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to U.S. involvement in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

When asked whether his liberal reputation tracks with Hawaii voters’ views, Schatz said he believes in Democratic values but will work across aisle with Republicans. Hanabusa responded that she more closely represents what people in Hawaii believe.

Schatz criticized Hanabusa’s effectiveness as member of Congress, while she said the incumbent does not have record in the Senate that he claims.

The two candidates, who are vying for the Democratic nomination for the final two years of the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye’s term, answered questions from Star-Advertiser political columnist Richard Borreca and HNN reporters Chris Tanaka and Grace Lee. HNN’s Tannya Joaquin was the moderater.

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