Politics & Government

Christie, Buono Trade Jabs in Gubernatorial Debate

Candidates discuss unemployment, same-sex marriage Sandy recovery and whether state should legalize marijuana.

Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic challenger Barbaro Buono exchanged blows Tuesday night in their first televised debate at William Paterson University in Wayne.

Christie blamed the longtime senator from Middlesex County for the $2.2 billion budget deficit he faced when he took office in 2010, while Buono said the governor has done nothing to change the state's high unemployment rate, according to NorthJersey.com.

The two responded to more than two dozen questions in the hour-long debate that spanned property taxes, same-sex marriage, affordable housing, higher-education funding, school vouchers, Superstorm Sandy recovery and whether New Jersey should legalize marijuana, the article reported.

A gentler side of Christie also emerged when he was asked to say something nice about his opponent, according to NJ.com.

"She’s obviously a good and caring mother and someone who cares deeply about public service. I would never denigrate her service," the article reported.

Did the debate change your view of either of the candidates? Tell us in the comments section below.


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