The debate is over ...

so let the debate begin.

Who won?

Neither Democrat Mark Warner nor Republican Jim Gilmore committed any major gaffes. The exchanges were pointed, reflecting their distaste for each other. Neither man had any particularly effective one-liners or seemed to have the other guy on the ropes.

Was it boring? Well, no.

The big policy issue was energy and off-shore drilling. Gilmore accused Warner of flip-flopping on the question of whether to allow drilling. Warner's position: He want to lift the federal moratorium on offshore drilling and let the states decide. Gilmore says that contrasts with Warner's statements from a month ago, when Warner said he favored exploring for oil, but not necessarily developing it, and letting the states decide.

Warner accused Gilmore of being a "one trick pony" on energy and favoring drilling over all else. Gilmore says he has a comprehensive energy policy, but he seems to lack the specifity that Warner displays on non-oil issues.

The big personal issue was about trust. Gilmore said Warner can't be trusted to do what he says. Warner promised not to raise taxes when he ran for governor, then did so.

Warner said his track record shows he can go to DC and reach across party lines to solve problems, which is just what Congress needs.

I heard one characterization of this debate as "no runs, no hits, no errors" -- another way of saying that it won't change much. That remains to be seen, because we're certain to hear more about the energy issue in the days and weeks ahead.

And you can read Sunday's Daily Press for more details.

Comments

[J. Tyler Ballance]

Why, out of all possible locations, was the first debate held at a remote, expensive, resort, instead of in one of the metropolitan areas where more people could have witnessed the debate?

[Brian Kirwin]

Warner used the same "one trick pony" line he used when he criticized Mark Earley for saying Warner would raise taxes?

I'd call that a gaffe!