(Host) The three Republican candidates for the U-S House in this month’s primary all staked out conservative positions in their debate on VPR today.
But as VPR’s Patti Daniels reports, they’re far from carbon copies of each other.
(Daniels) Each candidate says he represents a stark contrast to incumbent Democrat Peter Welch.
Businessman John Mitchell describes himself as a moderate. But he says Congress has become so liberal that by comparison he would be a new conservative voice in Washington. And he says that would make him much different from Welch.
(Mitchell) "I think that my potential opponent is not representing the interests of the people of the state of Vermont. I think he is rather following the leadership of his party in the House of Representatives."
(Daniels) Keith Stern owns a small business in White River Junction. He describes himself as moderate on social issues, but he’s fiscally conservative. Stern offers a laundry list of the areas where his political philosophy sets him apart from Congressman Welch, and from his opponents in the Republican primary.
(Stern) "Income tax reform. Protecting Social Security for future generations. Creating jobs in this country. Bringing them back. Cutting the debt. … Peter Welch is a big government, big spending, big debt person. We don’t need that."
(Daniels) Paul Beaudry is the former host of a conservative political talk radio show and he describes himself as a consultant to the Tea Party movement in Vermont.
Beaudry accuses Congressman Welch of refusing to tell the truth about the positions he takes. Beaudry says he would be a different kind of politician, and he’s unapologetic about embracing a conservative political philosophy.
(Beaudry) "I am genuine. You might not like the answer that I give but I will tell you the truth. I will never give someone an answer that they want to hear. I will tell them the truth and be right up front."
(Daniels) All three candidates say they have a shot at an upset victory over Welch in November.
For VPR News, I’m Patti Daniels