“The People’s Debate,” hosted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), will be held at 7:00 tonight in the Richmond studio of WCVE (Virginia Public Television) in collaboration with WTVR (CBS 6).
After facing off at The Homestead Resort in July and Liberty University in September, “The People’s Debate” will be the third and final opportunity to hear Republican nominee Corey Stewart and Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine debate the issues before Election Day on November 6.
Bearing Drift contributor Matt Walton is covering the debate live for readers with his tweets (@Matt4VA) and commentary from WCVE’s studio. You may want to tune in early for any pre-debate chatter.
Tonight’s event will run from 7-8:00 p.m. and will be live-streamed on WCVE’s Facebook page [1].
Live updates…..
8:45: Post debate thoughts from Matt Walton:
Tonight was a missed opportunity for US Senate hopeful Corey Stewart. During most of the 45 minute debate Stewart spent his time talking about the cost in dollars of sexual assault/harassment victims, instead of the actual problem of assault/harassment. Stewart tried at times to talk about the tax cuts and economy, but it clearly wasn’t his focus tonight.
Tim Kaine came across strong, calm and in command of the policy discussion. It was clear after the debate that Kaine wanted to talk about the issues that Virginians want to talk about in order to move the state forward. Kaine swatted away the attacks from Stewart with a calm demeanor and remained focused on talking about his past record as governor.
After this debate it’s clear that the needle will not move in the race, in fact if it goes in one direction I think Kaine benefits. If I were a republican member of Congress in Virginia, especially in the 10th, 7th, 5th, and 2nd I would not be happy about Stewart’s performance tonight as it puts my seat more in jeopardy.
Dr. Bob Holsworth post 2018 VA Senate Debate Thoughts.. #PeoplesDebate [2] #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] https://t.co/Qh2ej0EbYb [4]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 3, 2018 [5]
@CoreyStewartVA [6] post debate talking about the cost of sexual assault/harassment #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2] pic.twitter.com/2Blx4ioPAg [7]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 3, 2018 [8]
Post debate video.
@timkaine [9] talking about sexual assault/harassment post #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2] pic.twitter.com/clz64Fgqxg [10]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 3, 2018 [11]
8:00: The People’s Debate has concluded.
Post #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] pic.twitter.com/fL9COs89pe [12]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [13]
@timkaine [9] “look forward and a Virginia that works for all” #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [14]
@timkaine [9] my view on Chancellorsville, it was about hate not monuments #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [15]
@CoreyStewartVA [6] on Confederate Monuments.. “I say leave them alone”
Shifts to Colleges and Universities admission policies about SAT scores for Asians#PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [16]
@timkaine [9] on #SocialSecurity [17] “One of the best domestic pieces of legislation” “We have to protect the program” “I will protect Social Security, it’s a program that works” “modest tax above the payroll cap to keep it solvent” #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [18]
Great point to remember #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2] https://t.co/fxvqXF4JjC [19]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [20]
@CoreyStewartVA [6] on @timkaine [9] on his record “you shut down the rest stops” #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [21]
@CoreyStewartVA [6] hits the #ACA [22], says it made health care worse… @timkaine [9] says you need to hold on to your wallets if Corey gets a hold of your healthcare #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [23]
@CoreyStewartVA [6], “@timkaine [9] doesn’t work with the President” he is “against everything that @realDonaldTrump [24] and Republicans proposes”… @timkaine [9] bitter about 2016 #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [25]
@timkaine [9] “you’ve got a track record… going into every safety net and cutting it” #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [26]
@CoreyStewartVA [6] on the budget… they continue to spend more… and don’t want to make the tough decision re fed deficit #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [27]
@CoreyStewartVA [6] “There you go, @timkaine [9] wants to raise your taxes… now you want to raise taxes on the little guy” Blames Sen Dems for dipping into the social security funds to pay for sexual harassment claims #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [28]
7:40:
@CoreyStewartVA [6] “We have sky high tolls” in NoVa… #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [29]
7:36:
Observation: @CoreyStewartVA [6] talking way to much about the cost of sexual harassment and assault… not addressing the issue of sexual harassment/assault #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [30]
7:25: Watch live at www.facebook.com/WCVE.VA/
7:18:
#MentalHealthAwareness [31] is a topic brought up… @timkaine [9] talks about the #OpioidEpidemic [32] and talks about his bill that @realDonaldTrump [24] will sign about mental health #PeoplesDebate2018 [3] #PeoplesDebate [2]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [33]
7:12:
Stewart talks about sexual allegations of current members of congress… but says Dem’s wont get to the bottom of it “Clean up your own house” he says of Dems.. “17 million dollars of our own money” to settle claims
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [34]
7:10:
#Kavanaugh [35] already a big topic at the #PeoplesDebate [2], brought up in the Stewart opening and now @timkaine [9] defending his objection to #KavanaughConfirmation [36].. “We have to get to the bottom of it before we proceed to a vote” -Kaine-
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [37]
7:00: Debate is set to begin.
.@washingtonpost [38] political reporter & @PBS [39] @washingtonweek [40] host @costareports [41] will moderate the 10/2 #PeoplesDebate [2] between Sen. @timkaine [9] & Prince Wm Bd of Supervisors Chair @CoreyStewartVA [6]. Televised in every TV market in #VA [42], thanks to @CBS6 [43] & @wcve [44] https://t.co/3aqbrDbfop [45] pic.twitter.com/NacPdn8ioQ [46]
— AARP Virginia (@AARPVa) September 26, 2018 [47]
6:55:
Quick observation so far of the #PeoplesDebate [2] crowed… few undecided voters… only elected representatives seen so far @VVforDelegate [48] @debrarodman73 [49] & @tyenel12 [50] who are supporting @timkaine [9]…. no elected representatives show up to support @CoreyStewartVA [6]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [51]
6:40: Audio with undecided voters.
An interview with a few undecided voters at the #vasenatedebate [52] between @CoreyStewartVA [6] and @timkaine [9] pic.twitter.com/yjmaMpdlLa [53]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [54]
6:30: Video of Corey Stewart supporters before the debate.
Covering for @bearingdrift [59] we have some @CoreyStewartVA [6] supporters at the @AARP [56] debate for the #VASen [60] pic.twitter.com/PwosNmowFL [61]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [62]
6:25: Audio of undecided voters before the debate.
http://bearingdrift.com/wp-content/uploads/Matt-Walton-4-audio.mp3 [63]
5:31: Feel free to follow along... https://t.co/VCB1uY2EkK [64]
— Matt Walton (@Matt4VA) October 2, 2018 [65]
Cover graphic from WCVE-PBS