cos

I did watch that debate, and that's an unfair characterization. Both candidates answered most of the questions directly. In the cases where Connaughton seems to answer less directly (pensions and a retroactive wage increase for state employees), the candidates' positions are similar but the moderator's behavior was anything but even-handed. He asked Bump nuanced follow-up questions about previous statements and waited respectfully for her answer. But he grilled Connaughton with straight "yes or no" questions and interrupted her mid-sentence when she failed to answer quickly enough. The moderator even allowed Bump to go off on a long digression about her opponent's debate form instead of answering a question, something which moderators should avoid as it can falsely color viewers' recollection of the entire debate.

Bump did seem like a better debater, but the debate did little to convince me she'd be a better auditor.