News-Record.com

The Democrats hoping to win their party's nomination in the 6th Congressional District debated at Guilford College Tuesday night. The winner of the primary will go on to face Republican Howard Coble this fall.

Democrats in the race include Teresa Sue Bratton, Johnny Carter and Jay Ovittore.

Along with a colleague from the Lexington Dispatch, I had the opportunity to ask some questions of the candidates. Some of the highlights from my notes follow.

On Iraq

Ovittore and Bratton they would only vote for further funding of the war in Iraq if it was tied to timetables for withdrawal. Carter said that he would not vote for further military funding but that the U.S. needed to pay for the continued rebuilding of the country.

On Health Care

Carter said that he would put everyone under a national healthcare system.

Ovittore also advocated for a single-payer system.

Bratton said that she did not favor an immediate shift to a single payer or national health care system. She said that we should create a national nonprofit health care company that would cover those without private health insurance. If the country gradually moved to the point of single payer system, Bratton said that would be fine but that she did not want to outlaw an entire industry over night.

On gay marriage

Bratton said she would vote to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act passed under then-President Clinton, which allows states not to recognize marriages made in other states if they involve same sex unions. Bratton said she supports civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Carter said that gay people were being denied rights that others have. He said he was in favor of equitable treatment of all people and didn't see the reason for DOMA being passed.

Ovittore said that he would not only vote to repeal DOMA but would push for a law that would force states to recognize marriages made legal elsewhere, including same-sex unions.

Closings

Ovittore said: "I am the only candidate up here who can beat Howard Coble Nov. 4."

Carter invited people to read his policy positions on his website: "They're coming basically from common sense."

Bratton said she could assemble a coalition that can be Coble in the fall: "I'm a centrist and I believe I can attract Democrats, Republicans and Independents who are worried about their future and the future of our children."