Debate Roundup

Last night's guberantorial debate largely played out like many thought it would. Mitch, steadfast in is approach, cited the many improvements Hoosiers have seen in the last four years, while Jill Long Thompson continued her attacks on the very issues Mitch holds so dear. Alas, it seems the focal point of the night was the economy, and rightly so. Courtesy of the Journal-Gazette:

He [Mitch Daniels] has made no new proposals on how to jump-start the economy.

Since he took over in January 2005, the state has gained 27,800 jobs under Daniels’ watch. But Indiana has lost 24,800 jobs this year, and the unemployment rate has skyrocketed from 4.5 percent to 6.3 percent.

“We can all agree we have a long way to go economically, but it’s simply false to say that nothing is different and Indiana is not moving aggressively forward,” Daniels said.

He repeatedly pointed to a recent CNBC report that highlighted Indiana’s economic climate as the best in the nation.

But Long Thompson said the state also has another national distinction – leading the country in job losses in recent months – and the top hit on the state’s Web site is how to file for unemployment.

“Our economy has eroded the last four years,” she said. “I think it’s very important to talk about the real record of the current governor. That’s not negative campaigning.”

I think its safe to say this debate didn't change the race all that much. The combined effect of a limited audience and predictable script, severely hurt any means for a lasting shake-up that remains so paramount to Thompson's chances come November. How will her campaign respond? Something tells me it won't matter-- unfortunately.