Beasley, Budd become entangled in US Senate debate on economics, abortion and other policies

RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina’s U.S. Senate nominees argued Friday in the only debate so far this election season that they are better equipped than their opponent to cut the increased costs that residents have seen almost everywhere over the past year.

Republican US Rep. Ted Budd tried to link his Democratic opponent, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, to President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, Beasley stressed her support for federal legislation that lowers the cost of prescription drugs and tackles oil company price gouging — measures Budd opposed when they came to a vote in the US House of Representatives.

“He had every opportunity for the North Carolinas and missed it,” Beasley said.

Budd said Beasley will drive Biden’s economic policies, which he says are largely responsible for the rising cost of goods the nation has been experiencing.

“The Biden administration has made it tough, whether it’s small businesses downtown or on family farms,” ​​Budd said. “He did everything he could to make it difficult – and Cheri Beasley would be a hallmark of that policy.”

Friday’s debate, moderated by Spectrum News, was the only such forum planned before the Nov. 8 election between Beasley and Budd, who are vying for the seat of outgoing Republican US Senator Richard Burr occupy.

Three recent polls, including one by WRAL this week, show a deadlocked race with Beasley and Budd statistically tied. Republicans, meanwhile, are spending heavily to boost Budd.

Republican groups involved in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race have so far outstripped Democratic groups by a nearly 5-to-1 margin, according to analysis by Open Secrets, a state transparency group that tracks election spending. According to Open Secrets and Axios, pro-democracy groups have focused their efforts more on US Senate races in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

During the debate, Budd and Beasley delved into economics, abortion, and a range of other issues.

Different approaches to abortion

Beasley portrayed Budd against the medical procedure in all cases, while Budd accused Beasley of supporting abortion at all stages of pregnancy.

Beasley said she was working to get Roe v. Wade, the overturned US Supreme Court ruling that legalized the medical procedure nationwide.

“I support the Roe v. Wade framework that allows for protection and restraint in late pregnancy,” said Beasley.

In North Carolina, abortion is legal for the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Republican lawmakers have said they intend to introduce additional restrictions next year. They hope to win veto-proof majorities to override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has vetoed abortion measures since taking office in 2017. Some Democrats fear access to the process could be restricted at the state and federal levels.

Budd is co-sponsoring a measure that would ban most 15-week abortions. He said the issue should be left to the states, but said he supports a federal bill to respond to the Women’s Health Protection Act, a measure he felt would go too far to allow abortions. Budd declined to say whether he would allow abortion in cases of rape or incest, but signaled support in cases where a woman’s health is at risk.

“For me, it was always about protecting the mother’s life,” Budd said.

immigration agreement

The candidates also discussed the need for fundamental changes in the immigration process to reduce the flow of migrants along the US-Mexico border entering the US illegally

“I’m for a wall,” Budd said. “It’s not the whole solution, but it’s a big part of the solution.”

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

Beasley, Budd get confused accepting results

Beasley criticized Budd’s refusal to confirm the results of the 2020 presidential election. She was targeting specific comments Budd made in a radio breakout about the Jan. 6 riots in the U.S. Capitol:

“It was nothing,” Budd said on a Conservative radio talk show a few months after the Jan. 6, 2021, rioting in the US Capitol. “It was only patriots standing up and it was a bad day for America.”

Beasley said Budd was wrong to refer to former President Donald Trump’s violent supporters in that way.

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

Budd said his vote was largely symbolic, allowing the issue to be discussed further. “The essence of this vote was to stimulate more debate,” he said. “…We didn’t have the votes to pick it up, but of course it was a healthy thing to have the debate and I stand by that vote.”

Budd said he has long condemned violence. He then equated the attack on the US Capitol with protests that turned violent in downtown Raleigh following the murder of George Floyd.

“Whether it’s in Washington, DC, at the Capitol, or downtown Raleigh, or downtown Charlotte, I will denounce violence,” Budd said.

Beasley and Budd pledged to accept the result of this year’s US Senate election if they lose.

The candidates declined to speak to reporters after the debate.