WSLS 10 live coverage of the 2nd gubernatorial debate

Candidates faced off on several new issues, including one in our area

TYSONS, Va. – Both gubernatorial campaigns are claiming victory after Tuesday night's debate. 

Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam faced off in Northern Virginia, the second of three forums to help voters make their decision. The Northam for Governor campaign manager released a statement saying, "The candidate who won tonight is the one who proved he will stand up and defend the rights of Virginians." The statement criticized Gillespie, calling him "Trump's lobbyist." Meanwhile, Gillespie's campaign says the reason he's seeking the governorship is because he knows he can "do better."

Several divisive issues were to be expected coming into the debate. Northam and Gillespie are still very far apart on health care, with Northam advocating a public option to the Affordable Care Act, and Gillespie calling for a repeal to the ACA altogether. But several new issues entered the debate arena Tuesday, forcing both candidates to take a stand.

Moderator Chuck Todd said before the debate he intended to immediately address the violence in Charlottesville and the issue of Confederate statues.

"This Confederate memorial thing is a passionate issue. What I find interesting is that both Gillespie and Northam are trying to find a form of middle ground," Todd said.

For Northam, that middle ground meant advocating removing the statues, but not entirely.

"If they give them an excuse to come in and spew their hatred and bigotry and violence, then we need to sit down and have a discussion. Personally, I think these statues should be in museums with historical context," Northam said.

But Gillespie justified leaving the statues right where they are.

"It would allow for people to come together in our communities and talk about what do you see when you see that statue? What do you see when you see that statue? And I understand there are clearly very different perspectives," Gillespie said.

Later on, Gillespie directly attacked Northam over an issue in our region, a failed business deal at the Thomasville furniture factory in Appomattox.

"I don't know if he was at the meeting where they approved $1.4 million for a Chinese company with a fake website and voted, thought it was a good idea, or if he wasn't at it and should have been at it. But either way, you've got to do the job you're in before you seek a promotion," Gillespie said.

Northam didn't deny the claim, but said the issue has been addressed.

"We knew that we needed to make more improvements to make it more efficient to give more accountability. I was actually on the search committee that looked and found Steven Moray. He's doing a great job with that," Northam said.

Another interesting development was that Northam finally said definitively that he does support natural gas pipelines, as long as they're done with consideration of the environment and personal property rights, though unlike Gillespie, he still remains against fracking in the Commonwealth. The two candidates will face off for one more debate, in Wise County, before the election.