Champlain Hosts First U.S. Senate Debate

Six candidates for Vermont’s open U.S. Senate seat presented their positions on foreign-policy topics at a September 30 debate co-sponsored by Champlain College and the Vermont Council on World Affairs (VCWA). The event, held in the IDX Student Life Center gym on campus, was the first time that candidates U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders and IDX founder Richard Tarrant had appeared at the same forum. Former Associated Press Montpelier Bureau Chief Chris Graff moderated the debate, which included Anti-Bushists candidate Peter Moss, Vermont Green Party candidate Craig Hill, independent Cris Ericson, and Liberty Union candidate Peter Diamondstone.

Champlain Professor Gary Kessler, President David Finney, and VCWA Board Chairperson Bonnie Tangalos each delivered welcome addresses. Candidates then answered questions, some drawn from the audience of roughly 400 people, on such issues as the war in Iraq and trade relations with China. Dozens of Tarrant and Sanders supporters clustered in respective yellow and red T-shirts, highlighting the intense rivalry that defined the Senate race, with Tarrant touting a “World trade fosters world peace” mantra and Sanders highlighting his House voting record on such issues as the outsourcing of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

—EE