Democrat Brad Ellsworth, Republican Dan Coats, and Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris all want to slide into the Senate seat being vacated by Evan Bayh. At a debate Friday at IPFW, the candidates touched on a wide variety of issues from the Fair Tax, to the war on terror, to gay rights. But a question about the bank bailout sparked a back-and-forth between Coats and Ellsworth over Ellsworth's vote for the bailout. “He did vote for the tarp bailout of Wall Street,” said Coats. “The community banks didn’t get bailed out. The big guys did.” “President Bush came to the Congress and said, we need this money—with that look in their eye—that our economy is about to go over a cliff. That requires action,” responded Ellsworth. The two also sparred about Coats' history as a “I did not represent any of those companies that he mentioned for anything, let alone for the TARP,” said Coats. Ellsworth replied, “You can't come back to Sink-Burris didn't get involved in that dispute. “I’m not interested in mudslinging about who did what and when,” said Sink-Burris. “However, I think you could easily see that the old parties are not the answer.” Even one voter asked, why the negative flavor? “I think Ms. Sink-Burris and I want to have an adult discussion,” said Coats. But Ellsworth defended his questions. “Our records and our resumes are part of the issues," said Ellsworth. Throughout the one-hour event, Sink-Burris tried to separate herself from the major parties, saying she will bring change. “Both of the old parties have grown government,” said Sink-Burris. “Bush grew government, and then Obama came in and just whizzed right past his records!” Each candidate has just days left to convince voters why he or she will bring the change The third and final debate will take place Monday, October 25, in
