Kennedy, Landrieu on attack

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 13, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:00 a.m.

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Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Republican challenger John Kennedy resumed their campaign arguments Sunday night with heated disputes over Iraq, who should be the next president and health care.

Kennedy used the second debate of the U. S. Senate race to accuse Landrieu of backing a “choose to lose” strategy in Iraq and backing troop withdrawal timetables pushed by politicians, not military experts.

“But you know when we will be able to come home?” Kennedy asked. “When the generals tell us that we can.”

But Landrieu charged that it was Kennedy, then a Democratic contender for the U.S. Senate in 2004, who backed a “hard timetable” deadline to get troops out of Iraq and that she has never backed any such plan.

Kennedy, who joined the GOP last year, later denied her comment.

Landrieu said she has long supported U.S. troops but contends that new attention is needed to combat renewed  terrorist actions in Afghanistan.

Landrieu is seeking her third term. Kennedy is state treasurer.

The election is Nov. 4.

Both contenders spent one hour answering questions in a debate at LSU sponsored by the Council for a Better Louisiana and Louisiana Public Broadcasting. LPB carried the debate on stations statewide, including Baton Rouge.

In another dispute, Landrieu tried to rebuff Kennedy’s charges that her support of Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama over Republican nominee John McCain would play a role in who wins the Senate race.

“I know you are trying very hard,” Landrieu told Kennedy.

“But Sen. McCain’s coattails are not long enough for you,” she said, triggering cheers from some in the audience.

Kennedy repeatedly quizzed the Democrat on why she prefers Obama, who he noted has been widely rated as the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate.