Edwards, Van Hollen Spar Over Social Security, Trade
The two Democratic candidates running for Senate in Maryland came out swinging in their first formal exchange on Sunday, debating each other’s commitment to Social Security, effectiveness in office and electability in next year’s general election. In a feisty candidate forum organized by the Maryland Chapter of the National Organization for Women — the first in the nascent race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski — Reps. Donna F. Edwards and Chris Van Hollen sought to amplify distinctions in their records on trade, entitlements and women’s issues. Edwards, a Prince George’s County Democrat, directly attacked Van Hollen for past comments on Social Security, suggesting that he previously had been open to cuts to the landmark program that benefits 60 million seniors and disabled people.
“Here is where there is and has been, frankly, a fundamental difference between myself and Chris Van Hollen,” Edwards said to several hundred people gathered for the forum in Rockville. “When it came time to cut a deal that was part of a budget deal, Mr. Van Hollen was willing to consider — those were his own words — cuts to Social Security and Medicare,” she said. Read more…