With North Carolina’s primary election just over a month away, six Democrats running to represent the state’s 12th Congressional District met Thursday at a forum in Greensboro. The candidates laid out their positions on a number of issues, but as WFAE’s Duncan McFadyen reports, it’s a challenge to find differences among them.
The forum covered a lot of ground. In just under an hour, the six candidates answered questions on 10 issues, all submitted by the Young Democrats of Guilford County. The audience of about 50 people heard very similar answers. Take for example, a question about privatizing social security.
“I won’t privatize social security," says state Sen. Malcolm Graham (D-40).
"I will not allow social security to be privatized," says Charlotte attorney Curtis Osborne.
"I will not ever support a cut in social security benefits,” says CMS attorney George Battle III.
What about addressing climate change? They all suggest putting more resources into clean energy.
And President Obama’s push to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour?
“I think $10.10 is a good start, it’s realistic to begin there, but we need a living wage," says state Rep. Alma Adams of Greensoboro (D-58).
"I think we need to have a conversation about what a living wage is," says state Rep. Marcus Brandon of High Point (D-60).
"I’m a staunch supporter of the $10.10 living wage,” says former Charlotte City Councilman James Mitchell.
The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to coast to victory in November. The 12th is a heavily Democratic majority minority district that former Congressman Mel Watt represented for decades. The district snakes its way through six counties from Charlotte to Greensboro, including parts of Concord, Salisbury, High Point, and Winston-Salem.