McAuliffe, Cuccinelli Spar at First Debate

“After months of assailing each other’s integrity from afar and by proxy,” Ken Cuccinelli (R) and Terry McAuliffe (D) “traded direct attacks on stage Saturday in the opening debate of their heated race for Virginia governor,” the Washington Post reports.

“In a 90-minute face-off, the candidates cast their arguments in sharply personal terms, accusing each other of bullying, influence peddling and ‘flimflammery.'”

The Richmond Times Dispatch says the two “disagreed on just about every issue, including abortion, gay marriage, taxes, transportation and health care. The 90-minute debate was marked by rhetorical incursions launched by both men on what they perceived to be their opponent’s greatest weakness, all centered on a theme that the other guy cannot be trusted.”