Cravaack, Nolan hold final debate

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Oct 31, 2012 at 3:03 pm

VIRGINIA, Minn. (KNSI) Republican Congressman Chip Cravaack and Democrat Rick Nolan reprised their disagreements on Medicare, jobs and the effectiveness of Congress in their final debate in a nationally watched House race in northeastern Minnesota.

The candidates faced each other for 90 minutes in the Iron Range city of Virginia on Wednesday, five days before Election Day.

Nolan accused Cravaack of trying to do away with Medicare, while the first-term incumbent said that Democrats have no plan to save it.

Cravaack challenged Nolan's stance that environmental regulations create jobs and his support of a research institute for mining, while the challenger claimed that Cravaack hasn't effectively pushed forward precious metals mining.

Outside groups have spent more than $7.7 million on the race so far, fueling a torrent of negative ads.