Portman, Fisher debate

October 9, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND

The Democratic and Republican candidates for an open U.S. Senate seat challenged each other Friday over jobs and taxes and who is best able to help revive Ohio’s battered economy.

Democrat Lee Fisher and Republican Rob Portman spoke at a City Club of Cleveland debate before a luncheon audience of hundreds. Their final campaign debate will be Tuesday in Columbus.

Fisher, hoarse from a cold, said Portman has backed trade policies that have sent Ohio jobs overseas. He repeatedly sought to tie Portman to economic policies of former President George W. Bush, in whose administration Portman served as trade representative.

Portman, riding a double-digit lead in the polls, said Fisher’s proposals would mean job-killing higher taxes. “You can’t continue to raise taxes,” he said.

The economy dominated the mostly gentlemanly debate and, in keeping with City Club rules, applause was mostly kept in check by the crowd, divided by table between supporters for both sides.

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in August, placing it among the 10 states with the highest rates in the country. Ohio’s final pre-election jobless report, for September, will be issued Oct. 22.