Blogging for Max

… This is the first report that we know of; from the AP wire:

Barrow, Burns spar in first debate of 12th District rematch

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - U.S. Representative John Barrow and his Republican opponent, Max Burns, had the first debate of their rematch tonight. Barrow called himself an independent unafraid to buck the Democratic Party, while Burns insisted that Barrow’s party affiliation matters more than his policy stands.

The candidates are battling in their second straight election for eastern Georgia’s 12th District seat, which Burns held for one term before Barrow narrowly defeated him in 2004.

Facing off before an audience of 300 students at Georgia College and State University, both men agreed on some of the most divisive issues facing Americans. Both support staying the course in Iraq rather than pulling out. And both called for tighter border security as the answer to illegal immigration, opposing amnesty for illegal workers already in the US.

Barrow boasted about taking his stances that often put him at odds with fellow Democrats.

“No boss, no leader, no caucus can tell me how to vote,” Barrow said. “And none of them has.”

But Burns said Barrow’s party affiliation matters, because if Democrats wrest control of Congress a majority would support drawing troops out of Iraq and relaxing immigration enforcement — with or without Barrow’s support.

“He is the least effective members of the Georgia delegation, right behind Cynthia McKinney,” Burns said, referring to the Georgia congresswoman who lost her Democratic primary runoff this month. “The bottom line is his party will influence his vote.”

Meanwhile, Burns admitted he’s not always in lockstep with the GOP leaders - including President Bush, who will travel to Georgia next week to raise money for Burns.

Burns said he opposes Bush’s proposal for a guest worker program to allow some of the nation’s 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S.

“He’s my president,” Burns said. “But I don’t agree with everything he says or does.”

Barrow and Burns both said the U.S. made serious errors in conducting the war in Iraq, such as deploying insufficient troops early in the war and disbanding the defeated Iraqi army, opening its soldiers to recruiting by insurgents. Unlike many Democrats who have been quick to blame Bush, Barrow said he’s not pointing fingers.

“I don’t believe we’ve got time to argue about who’s at fault with the mistakes that were made,” he said, “but rather we need to focus on how do we get out of the mess we’re in.”

Again dismissing Barrow’s policy position, Burns said re-electing Barrow would help Democrats retake control of Congress and forgo any chance of success in Iraq.

“If my opponent’s party has their way, America will suffer and the security of our nation will be in jeopardy,” Burns said.

The candidates did engage in a heated exchange over trade agreements.

Barrow accused Republicans of giving away American jobs with trade deals such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement. He pointed to the small town of Millen, south of Augusta, where underwear manufacturer Jockey announced last month it will lay off 200 workers by November. The company plans to move those jobs to Central America, Barrow said.

“American workers are getting it from both ends,” Barrow said. “Illegal immigration is selling out American jobs to the lowest bidder. And bad trade deals are shipping out good American jobs overseas.”

Burns, saying he’d talked with Jockey’s president, denied CAFTA had influenced the Millen layoffs. He said he doesn’t support all such agreements, but insisted strong trade helps fuel job growth in city’s such as Savannah, where the port is booming.

“We have to trade. We cannot build a wall,” Burns said. “We cannot cut off the market. In Georgia alone, we would lose half our cotton production if we did not have the authorization of exporting raw materials.”

Two years ago, Burns of Sylvania was the incumbent defending his seat against Barrow, who defeated the Republican with 52 percent of the vote. Burns announced his comeback bid six months after he lost.

Burns figures his odds have been improved since the Legislature redrew the 12th District last year to exclude Barrow’s hometown of Athens. The Democratic incumbent has since moved to Savannah.

The eastern Georgia district now covers 22 counties in eastern Georgia - including the cities of Augusta and Milledgeville to the north, Vidalia and Savannah to the south. The changes pack more conservative-leaning, rural voters into the district, which was originally drawn to give an edge to Democrats.