Sparks flew quickly Friday as the two leading Democrats seeking Barbara Mikulski’s Senate seat met for the first of what are expected to be several debates.
The noontime face-off on Washington, D.C. radio station WAMU had barely started when Congressman Chris Van Hollen launched into charges that his House colleague Donna Edwards has been lying about his record because she has few accomplishments of her own.
“It’s interesting that Ms. Edwards is not running on her record,” Van Hollen said. “A lot of rhetoric, but no results, no record.”
But Edwards, who touts her background as a financially-challenged single mother, dismissed Van Hollen’s much deeper support in the political community.
“I have walked in the shoes of the people I hope to represent,” she said. “I represent their interests and it doesn’t matter to me that the political establishment has lined up in support behind somebody who they believe was born to the job.”
The pair was scheduled to go at each other again Friday night in Greenbelt.