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U.S. Senate Candidates Differ On Ebola Response And More

durbin.senate.gov / senatoroberweis.com

The Illinois candidates for U.S. Senate sparred over Ebola, Obamacare, immigration reform and anti-violence policies in their final televised debate Wednesday. Chicago Public Television hosted the forum.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, says he favors close monitoring of passengers and quarantining those at high risk of exposure.

But he disagreed with his Republican challenger Jim Oberweis, a state Senator, on the need for a travel ban from certain countries.  

"We have to keep the movement of health care workers into West Africa very much in the front burner.  This is when we can stop this disease at its source," Durbin said.

"Our government has a real responsibility to defend us, not only against military challenges  but also against health challenges," said Oberweis. "So whatever the government can do to protect us, I'd rather err on the side of caution in this case."

The two men clashed over issues such as whether the Affordable Care Act is a success. On the topic of gun violence, Durbin says Oberweis opposed background checks and banning so called assault weapons.  Oberweis says an improved economy would help.

Oberweis says the key to reducing violence is creating jobs. Durbin says there's a need for gun control, particularly for assault weapons. Oberweis supports ground troops to fight ISIS. Durbin wants U-S forces to train Iraqis to fight ISIS.

But sparks flew when things got personal. Durbin poked Oberweis about his wife’s permanent residency in Florida, where there’s no estate or inheritance tax. Oberweis fired back.

"There has never been a time in Illinois or no time in the last 37 years that home has been my permanent residence," Oberweis said.  

Both agreed an Obama Presidential Library should be paid for with private money. Hear the entire debate, recorded Oct. 29, 2014.

Sean Crawford, Yolanda Perdomo and Katie Finlon contributed to this report.

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