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CD8 debate blog and reader chat

Here's a transcript of the reader chat that accompanied the May 23 debate among candidates in Arizona's 8th Congressional District: Democrat Ron Barber, Republican Jesse Kelly, and Green Charlie Manolakis.

To our site visitors tonight: Thanks for your participation in tonight's chat. The number of comments and live viewers is dropping rapidly now that the debate is over, so I'm going to bring this to a close. Thanks again to KVOI for the streaming audio; a podcast of the debate will be available at kvoi.com on Thursday. Thanks also to the Jewish Community Center for hosting the event.

by John Bolton, StarNet night... 5/24/2012 3:32:35 AM

3rd & 7 37yd

@VoteJesseKelly maintained a positive message 2nite while @RonBarberAZ went negative and used scare tactics. Ron Barber = #EPICFAIL #AZ08

by AZ_Wraith via twitter 5/24/2012 3:18:37 AM
Im outta here the barber supporters are Koolaide drinking, pot smoking, blow snuffing addicts just like obama

by dandlac 5/24/2012 3:19:06 AM
My congrats to grandpa Kelly for his commercial lip synq

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:19:13 AM
Yeah I know you liberals wont post that.

by dandlac 5/24/2012 3:19:27 AM
Kelly is a good example of the sad state of high school education--civics is apparently left out!

by thinkingliberally 5/24/2012 3:19:28 AM
AZ Wrath... do you work for Faux News? Kelly stuck to the Republican talking points and didn't waiver.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 3:19:47 AM
by John Bolton, StarNet night... 5/24/2012 3:20:11 AM
Reply to justsaynotobho -- Oh, OK, I misunderstood your question, then. Was there anything in particular you thought the Star got wrong in trying to post quotes in real time?

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 3:21:31 AM
Kelly not onlydidn't win, he didn't have an original thought

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:21:52 AM
Thanks for providing the audio and the chat. Let's do it again.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 3:21:53 AM
@Pamela - We will most likely have a live chat on CD8 election night, June 12.

by John Bolton, StarNet night... 5/24/2012 3:22:38 AM
Thank you Norma, good job.

by AMom 5/24/2012 3:22:42 AM
Star didn't have a chance, The Jesse supporters were out in full force

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:23:06 AM
Who won the debate? That is a tough question. Both Barber and Kelly repeated their party platforms. Kelly represented the Teapublicans. Barber represented the Blue Dog Democrats. The Green guy gave us some fresh ideas that the majority party candidates would not mention.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 3:23:27 AM
Agree. Norma good job

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:23:29 AM
your moderator was far far better than the one in the last campaign who let the audience go nuts.

by thinkingliberally 5/24/2012 3:23:42 AM
To thinkingliberally: The moderator was Joe Burchell, the chief of the Star's downtown bureau.

by John Bolton, StarNet night... 5/24/2012 3:24:47 AM
Did everyone hear the same debate that I did? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know who won that debate. Kelly. Good job!!

by Aaron M. 5/24/2012 3:24:50 AM
blue dog demcrat a code word for lieing socialists?

by dandlac 5/24/2012 3:24:53 AM
I would have asked that for all sides, make them back up what they say

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:25:14 AM
thanks for the chance to exchange ideas

by dsrtdwllrs 5/24/2012 3:25:57 AM
Thanks much to all of you readers out there!

by Norma Coile, Arizona Daily... 5/24/2012 3:26:00 AM
No, Blue Dog Dem is code for Republcan-lite.

by Pamela 5/24/2012 3:26:00 AM
I heard the debate that Kelly didn't even have to talk, You all could have said it for him. John Justice told you what to think

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:26:34 AM
Jesse Kelly has no experience. He dropped out of college his first year, went into the Marines where he was TOLD what to do, and for 8 years has worked for his DADDY. He is truly a lightweightand his Republican friends keep sending out lies about Ron Barber. They are even too lazy to check their sources quoting interviews that Mr. Barber did with "Pierce" Morgan! So quick to be negative that they don't even proof read their propaganda. I have already voted for Ron Barber and I fear this race will be close because a lot of people just vote straight ticket. If I thought Jesse Kelly had a clue I would have no trouble voting for him.

by Retired Independent 5/24/2012 3:26:57 AM
YESSSSS

by kblanch 5/24/2012 3:28:04 AM
And Barber answered phones for Gabby!

by Aaron M. 5/24/2012 3:28:05 AM
Glad Barber asked Kelly WHY he changed position. Sorry Kelly did not answer. If his comments were taken out of context he should provide us with the originals so we can hear it

by moderate 5/24/2012 3:28:46 AM