Today in Eudora, Kansas Lynn Jenkins took to the stage to debate Margie Wakefield, the Democrat and Chris Clemmons, the libertarian as she defends her congressional seat.
Jenkins, sticking to her talking points advocated the continued efforts to repeal Obamacare - noting that the program was a "pack of lies" and has continually increased federal debt while risking bankrupting the medicaid system.
Jenkins faced an audience that was at least 80% Democrat, and her talking points were not always well received.
Margie Wakefield responded simply put "All you've done is try to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act".
Other issues discussed involved ISIS/ISIL, which led Lynn Jenkins to point out that she believes the president needs a broader plan that will likely involve boots on the ground.
Jenkins, who pointed out that they needed more time to review a plan and develop a strategy moving forward was faced down by Wakefield who countered with "You could have stayed in DC and done that job".
The debate which was strictly held to an hour often rotated between baseline prepared points by both sides, with minimal direct clash or response. Both major candidates seemed content to respond to a question without really engaging the arguments of their opponent, which often hurt Jenkins more, as not only was the audience not with her, but her failure to address conflicting viewpoints didn't give her many punches.
That said, it was often Chris Clemmons, the Libertarian who will be unable to vote for himself (he doesn't live in district) who made choice points about the issues at hand in a way that did respond to the two candidates. The problem Clemmons faced, though, is that for a seventh grade teacher many of his points seemed foolish - at one point arguing that the Constitution has not changed since the founding of our nation. This comment seemed especially strange standing on a stage where the other two candidates were women who had the right to vote, something not quite possible immediately out of the constitutional convention.
Full Debate Below: