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KDKA-TV Airs Mayoral Debate May 2

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May 2, 2009 8:40 pm US/Eastern

KDKA-TV Airs Mayoral Debate May 2

WATCH IT: Opening Statements | Part 2 | Part 3 | Lightning Round | Closing Statements

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The three Democratic candidates for mayor of Pittsburgh held a spirited debate at KDKA-TV.

Incumbent Luke Ravenstahl squared off against opponents Carmen Robinson and Patrick Dowd.

The candidates sat side-by-side.

The conversation sometimes got hostile on topics like city contracts in exchange for campaign contributions.

"The fact that contracts would be issued and then contributions would fall into the coffer of this mayor's campaign fund is an abomination," Dowd said.

"Mr. Dowd forgets that he has a record of his own," countered Ravenstahl. "When he was on the school board in 2007, he accepted a contribution in January of that year, voted for a contract in May of that year, then accepted another contribution from that same vendor in August of that year."

The mayor was hammered over his campaign commercial that takes full credit for turning the city's finances around.

The fact is, most of the fiscal changes in the city were mandated by a state oversight board.

"For him to sit here and tell you the public that he has done these things is actually the most disingenuous thing that you can imagine," Dowd said.

"You're right to point out that he is not completely honest and can you trust him," Robinson said. "And I think it's very fair for you to point out that commercial. It's full of half truths."

But it wasn't all nasty. The candidates were asked to say something nice about each other they finally did.

Ravenstahl has a million-dollar war chest and is considered a front-runner.

Even so, Dowd and Robinson say they'll continue to campaign hard.

Winning the Democratic primary in Pittsburgh is considered tantamount to winning the election.

However, in the fall, Independent Franco Dok Harris will take on the Democratic nominee.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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