5 takeaways from lone Florida Senate debate concerning Marco Rubio and Val Demings

Naomi Lim

Oct 18, 10:01 PM Oct 18, 10:22 PM

Abortion obtain, election protection, and foreign policy dominated Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Val Demings's (D-FL) 1 and only discussion just before Florida voters determine which they want to stand for them in the Senate.

Demings, the underdog challenger, came out swinging, calling two-time period incumbent Rubio a liar and cheat though introducing herself to the statewide voters "as the daughter of a maid and a janitor." But the six-12 months Orlando-primarily based Dwelling lawmaker and previous police chief's bluster appeared to peter out in comparison to Rubio's command of policy, apart from for his evasive reaction to a question about abortion.

Listed here are 5 times from the hourlong debate that stood out:

BIDEN Keeps Concentrate ON ABORTION AS DOBBS Demonstrates Indicators OF FIZZLING AS VOTER Precedence

ABORTION

As President Joe Biden underscores the concern of abortion nationwide, one of Rubio and Demings's most striking contrasts turned apparent when they were discussing Rubio's co-sponsorship of Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-SC) 15-7 days abortion ban.

"Just about every monthly bill I've at any time sponsored on abortion, every invoice I have at any time voted for has exceptions," Rubio claimed. "Each individual 1 of them does due to the fact that is what can go and that is what the the greater part of individuals support."

When pressed on no matter whether he would back a bill with no exceptions, the senator included he didn't "feel that the benefit of human lifetime is identified by the circumstance."

"We're never ever going to get a vote on a legislation that doesn't have exceptions," he stated. "She continue to is not going to respond to what precise restrictions. She has in no way voted for limitations."

Demings repeated she endorsed "a woman's suitable to pick out up to the time of viability."

GUN Regulate

Coming from a point out marred by gun violence, Rubio and Demings sparred in excess of how federal lawmakers should really respond to mass shootings, such as the 2016 Orlando Pulse nightclub taking pictures and Parkland's Stoneman Douglas Superior University taking pictures two a long time afterwards.

Demings appeared annoyed with Rubio's policy argument right after this week's capturing in North Carolina, contending he built "no sense" just after he was requested no matter if an 18-year-previous must be ready to acquire an AR-fashion rifle.

"Individuals who are households of victims of gun violence have just listened to that, and they're inquiring by themselves, 'What in the hell did he just say?'" she reported. "Florida passed laws elevating the age to have an assault weapon."

"What helps make no feeling is that we're heading to really go guidelines that only regulation-abiding men and women will adhere to and criminals carry on to violate," Rubio replied. "The dilemma is that the Still left in the Senate and in the Home, like congresswoman Demings, are versus it mainly because they want the California crimson flag law that enables your co-employee who has a grudge and can go to a judge."

International Plan

In spite of equally remaining on their chamber's intelligence committee, Rubio's membership of that panel, in addition to the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, was demonstrated for the duration of questions on Russia, China, and immigration.

When needled on how the United States really should respond if Russia were being to strike an ally, Demings claimed there need to be an "fast" response, even though Rubio added it should really be "proportionate."

"The NATO alliance will have to fulfill and choose what is proportional reaction, and that would depend on the nature and stage of the assault," he claimed. "It would have to be an allied reaction, not basically a U.S. one particular."

Rubio and Demings were being extra evenly matched on China plan. Demings claimed the U.S. desired to "keep China accountable," significantly with regards to Taiwan. Rubio quipped that sounded like "a superior bumper sticker."

"He goes all around the point out talking a lot about our dependency on China for semiconductors, and then he voted in opposition to the CHIPS Act that will aid additional American independence," Demings claimed.

Economic system

The overall economy was not the centerpiece of the debate, defying expectations offered that polling implies it is a top rated voter issue. Rubio and Demings were asked what they would do now to provide middle-course households economic aid. Rubio criticized Demings, and Democrats more broadly, for passing trillion-greenback investing offers and for acquiring a domestic electricity plan that has relied on periodic releases from the country's unexpected emergency oil reserve. Demings, in convert, scrutinized the pandemic-period Paycheck Protection Method.

ELECTION INTEGRITY

Rubio and Demings were being grilled two times on election integrity and security. Rubio distanced himself from Republicans and 2022 gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams (D-GA), who have disputed election results in the past, advocating for identification necessities and against fall containers, as properly as so-referred to as ballot harvesting.

"I assume elections have to have procedures," he mentioned, dismissing men and women likening "what is actually occurring now to the Jim Crow era."

The pair was also asked why a federalized approach to elections was required. Demings urged Congress to move the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Improvement Act

"We never need to have that federal legislation imposed on every point out," Rubio countered. "Florida has incredibly superior election legislation, and other states are pretty fantastic."