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Beasley, Budd tangle over economy, abortion, other policies in US Senate debate

Republican Ted Budd and Democrat Cheri Beasley highlighted differences over the economy, abortion and other issues during Friday's U.S. Senate debate.

Posted Updated

By
Bryan Anderson
, WRAL state government reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s U.S. Senate candidates argued Friday in the lone debate so far this election season that they are better equipped than their opponent to lower increased costs residents have seen just about everywhere over the past year.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd sought to link his Democratic opponent, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, to President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, Beasley highlighted her support for federal bills lowering prescription drug costs and cracking down on price gouging from oil companies — measures Budd opposed when they came up for a vote in the U.S. House.

“He’s had every opportunity for North Carolinians and has failed to do that,” Beasley said.

Budd said Beasley would advance Biden’s economic policies, which he says are responsible to a great degree for the rising costs of goods that the nation experienced.

“The Biden administration has made it hard, whether it’s small businesses in downtowns or out on family farms,” Budd said. “He’s done everything to make it hard — and Cheri Beasley would be a rubber stamp for those policies.”

Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd answer questions during an hour-long debate moderated by Spectrum News 1 political anchor Tim Boyum at Spectrum News 1 studio in Raleigh, NC Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (photo by Travis Long/Raleigh News & Observer)

Friday’s debate, which was hosted by Spectrum News, was the lone forum of its kind scheduled so far before the Nov. 8 election between Beasley and Budd, who are vying to fill the seat of retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr.

Three recent polls, including one from WRAL this week, show a deadlocked race, with Beasley and Budd in a statistical tie. Republicans, meanwhile, are spending heavily to boost Budd.

Republican groups involved in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race have outspent Democratic groups thus far by a nearly 5-to-1 margin, according to analysis from Open Secrets, a governmental transparency group that tracks spending in elections. Pro-Democratic groups have focused more of their efforts on U.S. Senate races in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to Open Secrets and Axios.

During the debate, Budd and Beasley tangled over the economy, abortion and a number of other issues.

Different approaches on abortion

Beasley presented Budd as opposed to the medical procedure in all cases, while Budd accused Beasley of supporting abortion at all stages of pregnancy.

Beasley said she’d work to codify Roe v. Wade, the overturned U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made the medical procedure legal nationwide.

“I support the Roe v. Wade framework, which allows for protections and restrictions late in pregnancy,” Beasley said.

U.S. Senate Democrat candidate Cheri Beasley answers a question during an hour-long debate with Republican Ted Budd at Spectrum News 1 studio in Raleigh, NC Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (photo by Travis Long/Raleigh News & Observer)

In North Carolina, abortion is legal during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Republican state legislative leaders have said they intend to take up additional restrictions next year. They hope to gain veto-proof majorities to override vetoes from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has vetoed anti-abortion measures since he took office in 2017. Some Democrats fear access to the procedure could be curtailed at the state and federal level.

U.S. Senate Republican candidate Ted Budd answers a question during an hour-long debate with Democrat Cheri Beasley at Spectrum News 1 studio in Raleigh, NC Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (photo by Travis Long/Raleigh News & Observer)

Budd is a co-sponsor of a measure that would outlaw most abortions 15 weeks into a pregnancy. He said the issue should be left to states, but said he supported a federal bill to respond to the Women’s Health Protection Act, a measure he viewed as too expansive in allowing abortion. Budd declined to say whether he’d allow for abortion in cases of rape or incest but signaled support in cases where a woman’s health is at risk.

“I’ve always been about protecting the life of the mother,” Budd said.

Agreement on immigration

The candidates also discussed the need for substantial changes to the immigration process to reduce the flow of migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully entering the U.S.

“I am in support of a wall,” Budd said. “It is not the whole solution, but it is a large part of the solution.”

Beasley called for comprehensive changes to the immigration system and a bipartisan solution. “Actions speak louder than words,” she said.

Beasley, Budd tangle on accepting results

Beasley criticized Budd’s refusal to certify the 2020 presidential election results. She took aim at specific comments Budd made on a radio saying of the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol:

“It was nothing,” Budd said on a conservative talk radio show several months after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. “It was just patriots standing up, and it was a bad day for America.”

Beasley said Budd was wrong to refer to the violent supporters of former President Donald Trump that way.

“He continues to spread the big lies of the 2020 election,” Beasley said of Budd.

Budd said his vote was largely symbolic so that there could be more debate on the issue. “The core of that vote was to inspire more debate,” he said. “… We didn’t have the votes to overturn it, but of course having the debate was a healthy thing and I do stand by that vote.”

Budd said he has long condemned violence. He then equated the attack at the U.S. Capitol to protests that turned violent in downtown Raleigh after the murder of George Floyd.

“Whether it’s in Washington, D.C., at the Capitol or whether it’s in downtown Raleigh or downtown Charlotte, I’m going to denounce violence,” Budd said.

Beasley and Budd committed to accepting the result of this year’s U.S. Senate election if they lose.

The candidates declined to speak with reporters after the debate.

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