Kaine’s policy skills, Cao’s rhetorical flair clash in Virginia US Senate debate

Kaine’s ability to speak on policy issues contrasted with Cao’s reliance on inflammatory right-wing rhetoric in Virginia’s US Senate race.

Virginia US Sen. Tim Kaine and his Republican challenger, Hung Cao, squared off in a televised debate last night at Norfolk State University. 

The pair sparred over a range of issues including the current ports strike, inflation, immigration, and reproductive rights. Kaine, who’s served in the US Senate since 2013, sought to highlight his years of public service in contrast with Cao’s far-right rhetoric and positions. For his part, Cao tried to argue Kaine has been an ineffective leader and raised fears about the impact of immigration on America. 

“The choice is pretty clear, for Virginians,” Kaine said in his closing statement. “You want results or you want extremism?”

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Cao, who’s never served in elected office, struggled at times to get his points across, and moderators pressed him multiple times to answer questions about his policy positions. Asked about the massive East Coast ports strike that includes more than 3,000 workers at the Port of Virginia facilities in Hampton Roads, Cao referred to the strike as a boycott before correcting himself and repeated his anti-immigrant stump speech. 

“The only people better off today than they were four years ago are illegal aliens,” Cao said. 

In response, Kaine reminded people that four years ago was the height of the pandemic. He added that the striking workers deserve to have their wages and benefits updated to the cost of living in 2024. 

“Paying them like it’s 2018 doesn’t cut it,” Kaine said. 

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It was one of several moments where Kaine’s fluency in policy issues contrasted with Cao’s reliance on right-wing rhetoric with little basis in reality. 

At one point, Cao tried to claim that Kaine had only helped pass a small number of bills during his ten-plus years in the US Senate, which Kaine quickly pointed out was not true.  

“Sir, there’s two truths in the world,” Cao responded. “Never walk in a Target store wearing a red shirt, and never go against an Asian when it comes to math.”

To which Kaine asked, “What does that mean?” 

While Cao’s line garnered applause from the studio audience and played well across conservative social media circles, it appears detached from how Congress works. Kaine has led the work to pass 36 pieces of federal legislation in addition to his contributions to many large packages of bills, his campaign said. 

“What Hung Cao said is absolutely false – every day, Senator Kaine stands up for Virginians,” Michael Beyer, Kaine’s communications director said in a statement to The Dogwood. “That’s why the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking listed Senator Kaine as the most-effective Senator in passing health-related bills last Congress.”

Pressed on his claims that diversity, equity, and inclusion policies are hurting military recruitment efforts, Cao brought up 9/11, the COVID vaccines, and disparaged drag queens. 

“What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds,” Cao said, which drew applause from the studio audience.

Kaine said he didn’t understand Cao’s argument. 

“He went all around the block, and I’m not really sure what his point was,” Kaine said. 

After the debate, Kaine took questions from reporters and Cao did not. 

1“This administration has a growing obsession with DEI. It’s no wonder we have a military recruiting problem.” – @HungCao_VA

Q: Can you explain how you believe diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are affecting military recruitment? pic.twitter.com/goHQg0U4iD

— WAVY TV 10 (@WAVY_News) October 3, 2024