Braley, Ernst disagree on ad spending in final debate

SIOUX CITY - U.S. Senate candidates Joni Ernst and Bruce Braley in a debate last night said they don't like the slew of negative campaign ads being broadcast this election cycle but disagreed on whether changes must be pursued.

Many of the advertisements have been run by outside groups that don't have spending limits following a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Ernst, a Republican state senator from Red Oak, said her family has stopped watching television altogether but she doesn't see a need to change campaign finance laws, which can intersect with First Amendment rights.

'I do believe in political free speech,” Ernst said.

Braley, a four-term U.S. representative from Waterloo, said he voted for limiting the amounts that could be spent by groups. That limit was swept aside by the court ruling. Braley said there must be toughened rules to shine light on the groups buying ads.

'The political free speech of secret donors is not more important than the free speech of Iowans,” he said.

The two candidates debated from Eppley Auditorium at Morningside College in Sioux City. The event was the third and final debate before the Nov. 4 election.

Polls have shown Braley and Ernst running neck-and-neck in the race. Ernst had more campaign cash on hand than Braley in the most recent campaign finance reports filed earlier this week, with $3.6 million compared to his $1.2 million.

University of Iowa political-science professor Tim Hagle said Braley came into the debate needing to display federal government knowledge while coming across as likable and not overly aggressive. He said Ernst sought to show that despite only serving a limited time as a state senator, she has a grasp of issues that would confront a U.S. senator.

'Each candidate did well enough in reaching those goals,” Hagle said.

In a series of examples built throughout the 60-minute debate, the candidates said their opponent has the wrong approach to lawmaking in Washington.

Ernst said Braley allies himself too much with President Barack Obama and has addressed issues only on a reactionary basis. That covers terrorist threats by the Islamic State in the Mideast and responding to health challenges as the Ebola virus spreads, Ernst said.

'We are getting no leadership from the president and Congressman Braley,” she said.

Braley countered that Ernst would dangerously pare away agencies that do much good for Americans.

'To Senator Ernst, the answer is ‘scrap it,' ” Braley said.

He pointed to her repeated statements to shutter the U.S. Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. Braley said such moves would privatize the federal student loan program and undermine water quality.

The candidates agreed there is merit in placing travel restrictions on some people with the Ebola virus in order to ensure the health of the greater population.