Iran a major subject in U.S. Senate candidate debate

Talk about it

Thursday night’s debate between the Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidates spurred accusations that both made financial decisions which helped Iran’s effort to obtain nuclear weapons.

Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Tommy Thompson both promised to fight Iran’s ability to get nuclear firepower and keep Wisconsin troops from having to do battle in that country.

But just before the debate, the Huffington Post said Thompson had investments in companies that do business with Iran. Baldwin brought it up during the statewide broadcast from Wausau. She said one of the companies made uranium for Iran.

Thompson said he only learned about the investments Wednesday and he sold them before taking the stage. He said he doesn’t agree with anyone doing business with Iran.

Thompson also went on the offensive. He challenged Baldwin for taking $60,000 in campaign money from a group that opposes U.S. sanctions against Iran.

When he called the group a company by the name of Council for a Living Earth, Baldwin said she had never heard of it, and that campaigns can only take donations from individuals.

According to www.wispolitics.com, records show the donations came through the Council for a Livable World, a Washington, D.C.-based group that, according to its website, advocates for “reducing the danger of nuclear weapons and increasing national security.”

“Our mission is to advocate for sensible national security policies and to help elect congressional candidates who support them,” the group’s website says. It provides a link for people to contribute to Baldwin’s campaign.

The Madison congresswoman she remembered voting twice – not four times – against tougher sanctions. Baldwin said there were efforts by the Iranian people to promote democracy at the time, and she wanted those efforts to succeed without the U.S. cracking down.

The two also sparred over jobs, taxes, the federal deficit, health care and education. They were allowed to challenge each other for most of the one-hour forum, which reflected the closeness of the race.

Most independent polls have them in a dead heat. But an NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll released Wednesday put Baldwin up by four points, 49-45. Their final debate will be Oct. 26.

You can watch Thurday night’s (Oct. 18) debate here.

Watch Wisconsin 2012 Debate: U.S. Senate General Election on PBS. See more from WPT Presents.

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