COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- At a live debate Monday on South Carolina Educational Television, the gubernatorial candidates went back and forth on the state’s budget gap, unemployment and education.
Democrat Vincent Sheheen says the state must invest more in early childhood education as the economy improves, while Republican Nikki Haley says South Carolina must ask businesses and faith-based groups to do more.
The event was their second of three debates, and it became evident to voters that the two major party candidates don’t agree on very much.
“You can elect someone who has told you the truth or you can elect someone who has said things over and over again that turned out not to be true,” Sheheen says.
“I have watched the good senator spend 80 percent of his advertising dollars attacking me on things that just aren’t true,” Haley adds.
With only days until the election, the race has tightened. According to a poll by Rasmussen Reports, Haley’s lead over Sheheen is nine points, compared to double-digit numbers during the previous four months.
They meet again Tuesday at Francis Marion University in Florence.
Sheheen says his top goal would be to bring jobs to the state, and his first order of business would be appointing a top-notch commerce secretary to help make that happen.
Haley says she would first develop a 10-year plan for South Carolina that would include comprehensive tax reform.
Green Party candidate Morgan Reeves was absent from the debate.
Reeves told WACH Fox News that South Carolina ETV unfairly excluded him.
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