Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and Republican challenger John Thune disagreed Monday night on religion in schools, health care and each candidate's ability to get things done for South Dakota.
One of the sharpest exchanges came when they were questioned about religion in schools during their final debate of the campaign, an hour-long confrontation broadcast by KSFY-TV of Sioux Falls and KOTA-TV of Rapid City.
The candidates, locked in a close race, were asked whether religious activities should be allowed in public schools.
Daschle, who is seeking his fourth term in the U.S. Senate, said he learned his values as an altar boy attending Sacred Heart School in Aberdeen. But the Democratic senator said he believes in separation of church and state in public schools because children might be forced to take part in something out of the mainstream.
"I don't think that I would want my children to say a prayer written by Sun Myung Moon," Daschle said, referring to the religious leader who has been convicted of tax evasion and recently declared himself the Messiah.
Thune, who was in the U.S. House in 1997-2003, said each school district should be allowed to decide whether to permit voluntary prayers and other religious activities. South Dakota school districts would not allow prayers written by Moon or others outside the mainstream, he said.
"I think it ought to be left to local school districts," Thune said.
Thune then accused Daschle of not being honest with South Dakotans on the abortion issue. Thune, who opposes abortion, said Daschle tries to convince voters he is against abortion while supporting the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League in Washington.
"In an election year, he tries to become what he thinks people in South Dakota want him to be on some of these cultural issues," Thune said. "Tom tries to be all things for all people, one thing in Washington and another thing in South Dakota. You can't have two sets of values."
Daschle said he opposes abortion and believes it is a tragedy. Daschle has previously said that while he personally opposes abortion, he also must respect court rulings that have declared that women have a constitutional right to abortions.
Daschle also pointed out he has voted a number of times to ban partial birth abortions.
"I oppose abortion very, very strongly," he said during the debate.
Thune then said Daschle has voted against Right to Life's position on 75 of 83 votes rated by the anti-abortion organization.
The candidates also disagreed on the Medicare reform measure passed by Congress last year.
Thune said the measure will pay for the prescriptions of 38,000 low-income senior citizens in South Dakota and will help all others on Medicare get lower costs when buying prescription drugs. In any event, many of the law's provisions don't take effect until 2006, he said.
"I wasn't there to vote on this one, but I believe it's at least a step in the right direction," Thune said.
Daschle said senior citizens are confused because there are 70 options for discount cards, some who have had coverage for prescription drugs will lose that coverage, and the bill prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower prices with drug manufacturers.
The main beneficiaries of the law are companies in the insurance industry, Daschle said. "This was a bad bill for South Dakota," he said.
Daschle said a good move would be to provide that if someone gets Medicare coverage for drugs while in the hospital, that coverage should continue after they leave the hospital.
Thune said the cost of health care has been driven up by Daschle's blockage of legislation that would limit liability in lawsuits dealing with medical care.
Daschle said the GOP proposal to limit malpractice liability would cut health care costs by only 0.5 percent, but he acknowledged the cost of such insurance can sometimes be a problem for doctors. He said he is not willing to take away the ability of patients to get compensation for medical mistakes.
Much of the debate also featured a continued disagreement on which candidate would do the best job of representing South Dakota's interests in Congress.
Daschle said his leadership position has helped South Dakota get money for water projects, highways, education and other programs.
The Democrat said as a Senate leader, he would be able to appoint one or two members of the commission that will recommend closures of military bases next year. That would provide a much better chance of protecting Ellsworth Air Force Base from being closed, he said.
"Now I'm sitting at one of the two most powerful seats in Washington. We've been able to put South Dakota at the head of the line," Daschle said.
"I'll never forget where I come from. I'll always remember South Dakota families," Daschle said.
But Thune said during his time in Congress he also helped get money for water projects, ethanol promotion and other important programs.
"My fellow South Dakotans, it's time for a change. South Dakota needs a voice again in the United States Senate," Thune said, adding that Daschle is following the national Democratic Party agenda rather than South Dakota's interests.
"A powerful desk isn't worth very much if the person sitting behind it is more concerned about Washington, D.C., than they are about Watertown, South Dakota," Thune said.