With only a week to go before next Tuesday's special election, candidates for the 8th District Congressional seat debated again last night in Cape Girardeau.
Republican Jason Smith and Democrat Steve Hodges faced off, along with Libertarian Bill Slantz and the Constitution Party's Doug Enyart.
All the candidates identify themselves as conservatives, and often tried to distinguish themselves by touting their conservative credentials.
Both Hodges and Smith are pro-life candidates, but Missouri Right To Life only endorses Jason Smith. The Republican says that's because Hodges did not try to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of a bill that allows employers to decline to provide insurance coverage for abortions.
"This gentleman refused to override the veto of the Democrat governor. He will do the same thing in Washington. He will go right along with President Obama and Nancy Pelosi and that's the last thing the 8th District needs in Washington, DC."
Hodges attacked Smith's pro-life record and his stance on embryonic stem cell research.
"In 2010, he voted on multiple occasions for funding to support research facilities that conducted human cloning and that used stem cells. If you're going to be extremely pro-life, who can you vote to approve research on human cloning? I don't think that meshes very well."
Smith and Hodges are vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Jo Ann Emerson. The Republican announced her resignation shortly after her re-election last year.
