GLOUCESTER — Four debates in 10 days, six in a month, two as bitter and personal as any local congressional debates in recent memory. But US Representative John F. Tierney and Republican challenger Richard Tisei eased back on the rancor in their final meeting Friday, largely eschewing personal attack — if not occasional eye-rolling — and emphasizing policy differences.
They avoided talk of the issue that has hovered over the race and fueled their fiercest exchanges: how much, if anything, the congressman knew about the illegal gambling ring run by his wife’s brothers.
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As they were "focusing on policy difference", at this debate, I received my 20th attack flyer against Richard Tisei, focusing on "guilt by association" and attendant lies, from the State Democratic Party and the Mass. Teachers Association, in my mailbox. I'm told that Tisei wants to kill Medicare, prevent women from getting cancer screening, and end abortion (Tisei is pro-choice, but why let the facts interfere?) Some party is counting on women/Independents being dumb enough to believe these charges. BTW, I've received just three anti-Tierney flyers.