The candidates seeking Minnesota's 6th District congressional seat held their first debate Thursday in St. Cloud. The campaign has been a bitter one, fought mostly through television ads. But Independence Party candidate Dan Becker, Republican Mark Kennedy and DFLer Janet Robert mostly stuck to issues before the audience of local business leaders.

	The three candidates for the 6th Congressional District held their first, and likely only, debate Thursday in St. Cloud. (MPR Photo/Jeff Horwich)

No one knew quite what to expect when the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce finally got all three candidates behind the same table.

What the audience got was a largely cordial exchange, with Robert making occasional swipes at Kennedy's record as a first term congressman for the current 2nd District. She joined Dan Becker in criticizing Kennedy's vote to give the president "fast-track" authority to negotiate trade agreements. She says opening trade too quickly subjects Minnesota businesses up to unfair competition.

"A few very large corporations think free trade works for them, and it does, because they're not playing on a competitive playing field," Robert said. "But right now the World Trade Organization is able to come in and tell our trucking businesses that they have to start competing with Mexican trucking businesses, which do not have to meet our safety regulations. Our dairy farmers are going to be told they have to compete with the price on the world market."

Kennedy countered that trade agreements will open up new markets to Minnesota products like corn and soybeans. Kennedy said his support for free trade even leads him to disagree with President Bush on a key issue.

	Republican Mark Kennedy, currently the incumbent in the 2nd Congressional District. (MPR Photo/Jeff Horwich)

If possible, Kennedy would do away with the tariffs on steel Bush authorized earlier this year.

All three candidates said they would keep the Bush tax cut, despite concerns it may contribute to government deficits.

They headed in different directions when the topic turned to health care. Kennedy touted his support for the prescription drug bill approved in the House which would help seniors through existing private insurance plans. Robert said the House bill didn't go far enough, and any plan should pay for the prescription drugs of Medicare users.

Becker said he wants to address the shortage of health care workers. He proposes diverting federal grant money to students pursuing health care careers.

Becker is a St. Cloud native, and on transportation questions he spoke the language of his local audience.

	DFLer Janet Robert. (MPR Photo/Jeff Horwich)

"The people who live over off of Killian and over by St. Cloud State, who live in those neighborhoods on the other side of the river complain that there is just too much traffic, so need another bridge crossing," Becker says. "Well, how far south are you going to move it?"

All three candidates promised to bring home money for the proposed Northstar commuter rail line from the Twin Cities to St. Cloud, as well as for road projects in the fast-growing district. But Becker says the process of getting federal funding is backwards.

"We need to get on a local level and work out what we want to do first, and then take it up the ladder from there. Not go get the money first, and then fight at the local level (about) what are we going to do now?" Becker says.

Mark Kennedy noted all the advantages of an incumbent congressman in the majority party. He brought up the committees he sits on, the endorsements he's received, and the projects he's brought home.

	Independence Party candidate Dan Becker. (MPR Photo/Jeff Horwich)

"I've also delivered on tax relief, on a prescription drug plan, on funding education mandates, on our roads, on keeping our country safe. And I've also done those difficult things to do in Congress -- get things passed," Kennedy says.

This race has been characterized by some angry ads between Robert and Kennedy. Dan Becker got first crack at the question: Which ad has most offended you?

"The advertisements I have found most offensive were the ones that don't include me," Becker said to laughter from the crowd.

The moderator asked Mark Kennedy the same question. "How I wish I could say that," Kennedy said.

Robert used the chance to renew the charges made in her ads, that Kennedy hurt shareholders while he was a corporate executive at Twin Cities-based Department 56. Kennedy says a judge dismissed the lawsuit Robert refers to, and her charges are smearing an honest company.

This was the only time the candidates are scheduled to meet before Tuesday's election.