PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Democrat John Kitzhaber and Republican Chris Dudley faced off Thursday night in a lively debate that focused on the campaigns’ competing narratives. Former governor Kitzhaber sought to portray Dudley as a protector of the wealthy while Dudley said another Kitzhaber administration would be a return to the past.
This was the first debate of the campaign — and the only one agreed to by both candidates so far.
Each candidate answered questions about a personal issue raised by the other side in campaign ads.
Dudley says questions about his decision to live in Washington state while working in Oregon amount to “unfair criticism.”
Kitzhaber says a home loan he received from a man he later appointed to the Oregon Investment Council was fair and is a non-issue.
