CHICAGO — U.S. Senate candidates Barack Obama and Alan Keyes clashed with energy Thursday night in a debate that focused on local legislative issues and personal faith.
ABC-7 news anchor Ron Magers moderated the debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Illinois and a panel of three local journalists questioned the candidates. The candidates also had the opportunity to ask each other one question.
Abortion featured prominently as a differentiating issue between the candidates. Republican candidate Keyes is against abortion in all cases. Keyes also quoted statistics on disproportionately high rates of abortion among African American women.
“(Abortion) has killed 13 million black babies since Roe v. Wade,” said Keyes. “(That’s) 25 percent of the black population today.”
When asked about how faith played into his life, Obama said it plays a role in his decisions, but he does not want to impose it on the state.
“I’m not running to be the minister of Illinois,” Obama said. “I’m running to be the senator of Illinois.”
The panel of journalists also focused on gun control, in particular referring to Obama’s voting record in the Illinois State Senate. Obama referred to the recent expiration of the assault weapon ban in the U.S. Congress and his continued support for gun control.
“It helps when they don’t have an assault weapon with them when they shoot into that crowd,” Obama said.
Keyes said he wanted to ensure that citizens have the right to defend themselves.
“Law abiding citizens should have a right to bear arms,” he said.
When the time came halfway through the debate to question each other, Keyes asked Obama about sex education in schools. Then Obama questioned Keyes about his support of repealing the 17th amendment, which lets voters elect their senators.
Outside on State Street, Keyes and Obama supporters chanted “Obamanation” and “Take your Keyes and leave” and waved signs in favor of their preferred candidate.
Emily Koches, a Weinberg sophomore who has worked on the Obama campaign for the past year, said she thought Obama remained calm throughout the debate.
“It’s always interesting,” Koches said. “But I think Obama did a good job and that’s the important part. What’s really amazing is that he was able to remain composed in the face of Alan Keyes and his ridiculous opinions.”
Koches said at times Keyes used his faith to avoid answering questions.
“Alan Keyes only has a few issues that he can talk about with authority,” Koches said. “I think the way he used faith (in the debate) is inappropriate. He uses it as a way to avoid any issue he doesn’t want to talk about.”
Weinberg senior and Keyes supporter James Gelfand said Keyes talked about his faith because he was addressing the causes of problems addressing Illinois voters.
“They both talked about faith,” Gelfand said. “Keyes wanted to talk about causes instead of throwing money at the consequences.”
Gelfand was very happy with Keyes’ performance at the debate.
“I think Keyes completely destroyed Obama on the war on terror, gun rights, Obama’s atrocious voting record, abortion, the death penalty and homosexual marriage,” Gelfand said. “In the next debate he needs to perform just as he did tonight.”
The debate was broadcast live from the ABC-7 studios on State Street. The City Club of Chicago will host the final televised debate live on WTTV-11 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
Reach Shira Toeplitz at [email protected].
