The only debate between DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican challenger Royce White began Sunday on the street outside WCCO Radio.
As White approached the building, he yelled “a bunch of communists” to about two dozen Klobuchar supporters waving flags and cheering. The 33-year-old provocateur and podcaster also thanked former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney for supporting Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. That’s because there is “absolutely no chance” that Harris will defeat Republican former President Donald Trump on November 25th. 5.
Klobuchar, 64, arrived a little early, smiling and saying “good morning” to her supporters. Once inside, the two answered questions from host Blois Olson for an hour. Their tone was generally polite, with White often interrupting Klobuchar’s responses with “rebuttals,” indicating a desire to respond.
The senator repeatedly raised White’s claims on X (formerly Twitter) that “the bad guys won World War II” and “there were no good guys in that war.” She criticized the stance as offensive to veterans.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar arrives on WCCO Radio for a debate with Lois White in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 27 (Richard Tsong-Taatari)
Klobuchar, who is seeking a fourth six-year term, has billed herself as a pragmatist. She begins by saying that we live in “incredibly politically divisive times,” but that we are working to lower transportation costs and drug prices for seniors, support veterans, and expand housing and child care. He said he has listened to and cooperated with the Republican Party to achieve this goal.
“Courage in the next few years will not be standing alone and yelling at people,” she said in the opening, alluding to Mr. White's rhetoric, which she said was often vulgar.
White, a former NBA player, is new to politics but is close to Steve Bannon, a right-wing media executive and former chief strategist to imprisoned President Trump. Last summer, Mr. White won the support of the state Republican Party in his contest against Ms. Klobuchar.
“Our country is coming apart at the seams, and I think we can change that,” White said in his opening statement. He said he threatened the status quo, denounced the “permanent political class” and called the two major parties “unity parties.”
