Brown, Warren Spar In 2nd Debate For US Sen. Seat
LOWELL (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and Democrat Elizabeth Warren jousted on everything from immigration reform and Afghanistan to jobs and the Supreme Court during their second televised debate.
Brown began Monday's match-up by again demanding Warren release her personnel records at Harvard University, even as he conceded she is "a qualified academic" who earned her title as professor.
WATCH: First Senate Debate On WBZ
"I think the fact that she hasn't released her records speaks volumes," said Brown, who's suggested Warren used her claims of Native American heritage to help land a job at the school, something Warren denies.
Warren responded by pressing Brown for more information on the clients he represented as a private attorney and said if re-elected to the Senate, Brown would help fellow Republicans block President Barack Obama's agenda, including his jobs bill.
Warren also pushed back against Brown's criticism of past legal work she did on behalf of LTV Steel and Travelers Insurance in U.S. Supreme Court cases, which he said runs counter to her image as a fighter for the middle class.
"I have worked hard for 30 years to make the legal system just a little bit fairer," said Warren, who added that she wasn't bothered by Brown's decision to refer to her as "Professor Warren" in debates and press conferences.
"I worked hard for this," she said. "It doesn't bother me."
The hour-long debate allowed the candidates to draw sharp distinctions on a range of policy issues.
Asked about Afghanistan, Warren broke with Obama, saying U.S. troops should be brought home ahead of his 2014 withdrawal date.
"We can't stay and rebuild Afghanistan forever," she said. "I think it is time to bring our troops home."
Brown, however, said he wouldn't want to second guess the president.
"I would rely on the guidance from the president and his generals," he said.
The two also split on immigration.
Brown said he supports an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, but opposes the so-called DREAM Act, which would provide a path to legal status for many young illegal immigrants.
Warren said she supports the bill.
The two candidates were also asked how they would help break the partisan gridlock in Washington.
Brown repeated his oft-stated remark that he is one of the most bipartisan senators in Washington, and went further when he said he was "undecided" as to whether he would back conservative Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, for majority leader if the GOP gained control of the Senate after the November election.
When asked to name a Republican senator with whom she could work, Warren mentioned Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, then was reminded that he is leaving the Senate after being defeated in the primary.
"That is a problem," Warren said.
Brown picked up on Warren's choice.
"With regard to working with any person on the opposite side of the aisle, she couldn't reference anyone except Richard Lugar, who is retiring," he said.
The two also came up with different answers when asked to name their model of a Supreme Court Justice.
Brown named conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, then quickly added three additional choices, including Justice Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Warren named Justice Elena Kagan, who once served as dean of Harvard Law School.
The televised debate, sponsored by the Boston Herald and University of Massachusetts-Lowell, was also streamed live by The Associated Press.
Moderator David Gregory ended the debate on a lighter note by asking both candidates a question about the Red Sox — specifically if they thought manager Bobby Valentine should be fired after the team's worst season in decades.
Warren said she thought Valentine deserved another year, while Brown said he would leave it up to Sox management.
Red Sox questions can be fraught with potential danger for candidates in Massachusetts. In the special election won by Brown in January 2010, Democrat Martha Coakley stumbled when she referred to former Sox pitcher Curt Schilling as a Yankees fan.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
