Candidates for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, and Republican challenger John Archer participated in a debate Tuesday night hosted by Iowa Public Television in Newton. The debate was moderated by Dean Borg. The candidates were joined by Kay Henderson, news director for Radio Iowa, and James Lynch, political reporter for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, who posed questions.

The candidates appeared in a forum on Oct. 9, and they will participate in another debate Oct. 20 at St. Ambrose University.

Archer and Loebsack focused on several issues, including the wind-energy tax cut.

“What we can’t do to this industry is pull the rug out from under it right now,” Archer said. “This is one area where I don’t agree with Mr. Romney.”

Archer supports extending the tax credits for the next three or four years, until the industry can support itself without it.

Loeback appeared to be on the same page.

“This is a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “We’re talking about 6,000 jobs.”

Both candidates were given a chance to address their opponent’s attack ads. Loebsack’s ad against Archer attacked him for supposedly sending jobs overseas and investing overseas.

“It’s that type of shenanigans that the 2nd District is tired of,” Archer said.

He claimed the ad to be mostly untrue and that many people invest overseas.

Archer’s ad was shown attacking Loebsack for sleeping on the job and being Iowa’s most ineffective congressman.

“The only thing tired is a commercial like that,” Loebsack asserted.

The debate is scheduled to be rebroadcast at 7:30 p.m. Friday and noon Oct. 21. It can also be viewed on IPTV World at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

— by Cassidy Riley