Watch: Ohio GOP Senate Candidates Get Heated in Tense Debate Standoff
The leading candidates in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary race nearly got physical in a showdown during a Friday debate. State Treasurer Josh Mandel appeared ready to fight investment banker Mike Gibbons. The two men…
The leading candidates in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary race nearly got physical in a showdown during a Friday debate.
State Treasurer Josh Mandel appeared ready to fight investment banker Mike Gibbons.
The two men seemed nearly at arms as they stood face-to-face and traded insults, with audience members booing a display one might expect of Politics in a third-world country.
The confrontation began when Mandel accused Gibbons of various Chinese business dealings.
Gibbons rejected Mandel’s claims and questioned his business acumen.
“You may not understand this … because you’ve never been in the private sector,” he said.
Mandel arose from his seat angrily, citing his military service in a rebuttal of Gibbons’ claims.
“Two tours in Iraq, you don’t tell me I haven’t worked!” he said. “Don’t tell me I haven’t worked.”
Gibbons, who is considerably older than the 44-year-old Mandel, didn’t back down.
“You don’t know squat,” he said. “You don’t know squat.”