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How Do U.S. Senate Candidates Stack Up On Job Creation?

BOSTON (CBS) -- The most important issue to voters is jobs and the economy.

Nothing else is even close according to the latest polls.

WBZ's Jon Keller asked Ed Markey what's the most significant thing he's done this session help create jobs in the state, and asked Gabriel Gomez what he'd do in the Senate.

"Well, it has been to fight the Tea Party Republicans and their efforts to try to destroy jobs here in Massachusetts," Congressman Ed Markey said. "I fought and I continue to fight their support for sequestration."

When questioned further about specifics on job creation, Markey continued to point to the other side.

"Unfortunately, the Tea Party Republicans control the agenda in the House of Representatives," Markey said. "They are on a mission to destroy jobs in Massachusetts."

Gomez says he has a number of ways to create jobs.

"There's a number of things we're going to do to help create jobs back here," Gomez said. "One is, we're going to repeal the medical device tax first."

"Second, we're going to reform the corporate tax rate," Gomez said. "I also think we can have more trade agreements so we can export our products and services throughout the world with more markets out there."

Gomez says after Markey's decades in office, we don't have much to show for it.

"He thinks it's all about the government down there and to continue doing what he's been doing, and look what that's gotten us right now?" Gomez said.

Markey's aides did follow-up with WBZ  of a wind-energy tax-credit he backed recently that will help create job here.

Meanwhile, Gomez's job creation wish list includes items like tax reform that have gone nowhere in Congress for years.

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