Politics & Government

Campaign Notebook: 3 Weeks Out, Debates Dominate Headlines

Debates were held on all levels of races this week.

With election day less than three weeks away, candidates' debates were taking place on all different levels of races this past week.

Presidential candidates faced off on Long Island, Senate candidates took the stage in Saratoga Springs, while on the local level, Congressional and state Senate candidates debated on the East End.

The second of three debates between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney we held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, and Patch was on hand, both at the debate itself and at a local viewing party to host those who wanted to watch the debate in the company of others.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patch did not cover the debate, which was held in Saratoga Springs, between Senate candidates Kirsten Gillibrand and her Republican opponent, Wendy Long. Though it did gain a bit of notoriety for one question asked: whether the two candidates had read "50 Shades of Gray."

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Getting down to the local level, Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, and Randy Altschuler, R-St. James, squared off in another debate on the East End.

Bishop was named among the nation's 'greenest' politicians this week by The Daily Beast, and announced the endorsement of the Suffolk County Police Conference on Thursday, which consists of the Suffolk County Police Benevolence Association, the Suffolk County Detective Investigators P.B.A., the Suffolk County Superior Officers Association, and the Suffolk County Detective Association.

Meanwhile a state Senate debate was held in Hampton Bays, featuring the incumbent state Sen. Ken LaValle, R-Port Jefferson, and Bridget Fleming, D-Southampton. The two will face off again on Monday at the East Hampton firehouse at 7 p.m.


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