College students get chance to question Senate candidates

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Latest a debate on the campus of Penn State University between three Democrats running for a chance to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey in the fall election (all times Eastern Daylight Time): 9:25 p.m. The three Pennsylvania Democrats seeking their party's nomination for U.S. Senate took a more congenial approach as they answered questions from college students in an hour-long debate on Penn State University's campus. Saturday night's debate between John Fetterman, Katie McGinty and Joe Sestak included questions about how to improve public education in lower-income communities, how to close the wealth gap and whether putting up trade barriers to protect domestic workers are worth the cost. The candidates rarely clashed, although Fetterman says the country should go immediately to a $15 an hour minimum wage, while Sestak says it should be done in steps to protect against job losses. Sestak also says fair trade deals are possible if done right, but McGinty and Fetterman were resolute in their rejection of trade deals. The candidates largely stayed away from the attacks and rebuttals that had characterized a Tuesday night debate in Pittsburgh. The primary election is April 26. ___ 8:30 p.m. The three Pennsylvania Democrats seeking their party's nomination to challenge first-term Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey in November are taking questions from college students in an hour-long debate on Penn State University's campus. Saturday night's debate between John Fetterman, Katie McGinty and Joe Sestak began with questions about how to improve education, how to close the wealth gap and whether putting up trade barriers to protect domestic workers are worth the cost. The candidates made similar points on most, although Fetterman says the country should go immediately to a $15 an hour minimum wage, while Sestak says it should be done in steps to protect against job losses. Sestak also says fair trade deals are possible if done right, but McGinty and Fetterman were more resolute in their rejection of trade deals. This is the second debate this week to be broadcast live on TV. The primary election is April 26. ___ 8 p.m. The three Pennsylvania Democrats seeking their party's nomination to challenge first-term Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey in November are starting an hour-long debate on Penn State University's campus. Saturday night's debate between John Fetterman, Katie McGinty and Joe Sestak is the second debate this week to be broadcast live on TV. The focus is issues of particular importance to younger people and college students from around Pennsylvania are asking questions. The primary election is April 26. Fetterman is the three-term mayor of Braddock, an impoverished steel town near Pittsburgh. Sestak is a retired Navy rear admiral and former two-term congressman from suburban Philadelphia. McGinty has held high-level posts in state and federal government, mostly as an environmental adviser to former President Bill Clinton and former Gov. Ed Rendell. The debate is being broadcast live on public television stations around much of Pennsylvania and streamed live online by WPSU. ___ 9 a.m. The three Pennsylvania Democrats seeking their party's nomination for U.S. Senate will be debating the issues in an hourlong forum at Penn State sponsored by the school's McCourtney Institute for Democracy. Candidates John Fetterman, Joe Sestak and Katie McGinty are competing in the April 26 primary to be their party's candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey. The focus of the Saturday evening discussion will be issues of particular importance to younger people. Fetterman is the three-term mayor of Braddock, a steel town near Pittsburgh. Sestak is a retired Navy rear admiral and former congressman. McGinty has held high-level posts in state and federal government. The debate will be broadcast online by WPSU and be shown on television stations in other parts of the state.

The Latest: Pennsylvania Democrats' US Senate primary debate