Rowley, Kline, Lewis Debate at State Fair

Rep. John Kline (R-MN) and Democratic challenger Coleen Rowley met at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday to hold their first debate in the race for the second Congressional district.  However, the most significant exchanges of the evening came between Rowley and host and moderator Jason Lewis, a conservative talk show host for KTLK-FM.Lewis pressed Rowley on issues from immigration to NSA wiretapping, while Kline was reduced to the role of spectator throughout much of the debate.  At one point, as Lewis was pressing Rowley with pulled quotes from an FBI Inspector-General report that were critical of Rowley, the Democrat, said, exasperated, “Read the whole report.”

Much more coverage of this debate to come, including a question-by-question summary, an interview with Coleen Rowley, and fact-checks of Kline, Rowley, and Lewis.

[This post has been updated; a newer version is here]