DES MOINES – Terry Branstad and Jack Hatch will face each other in a one-hour televised debate sponsored by Iowa Public Television Thursday at 4 PM at the Iowa State Fair’s Penningroth Media Center.
This will be the first debate of the campaign, one of three debates agreed to by the candidates. Another debate is set for September 20 in Burlington and another is set for October 14 in Sioux City.
Branstad has enjoyed a comfortable lead in early polls, with Hatch playing catch-up. Hatch has lagged woefully behind Branstad in campaign cash, as well.
At least one lobbying group plans to make an impact at the debate.
Citizens for a Healthy Iowa says it “demand[s] to know what they will do about Iowa’s dirty sources of drinking water.”
“We refuse to let Iowa be the next Ohio. We are making it known to candidates throughout the state that Iowans are paying attention to their stances on water quality this election,” said Mike Delaney, Board President for Citizens for a Healthy Iowa. “Thousands of Iowans will be voting in favor of clean water this November. Water quality is a top issue.”
Hatch, for his part, says he will ask Branstad about huge tax breaks for corporations, hush money payouts, and jobs.
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