Minnesota 3rd District candidates debate

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The candidates in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District aren't old enough to receive Social Security, but they focused on the issue anyway during their first televised debate Tuesday.

Democrat Ashwin Madia, 30, came out against privatization of Social Security and said the funds used to support it shouldn't be used for other purposes.

Republican Erik Paulsen, 43, said Social Security should be "preserved and protected" while other forms of retirement savings are encouraged.

Independence Party candidate David Dillon, 53, said he's not afraid to look at unpopular options when it comes to the issue, which he called "the third rail of politics."

The three are vying for the seat currently held by Rep. Jim Ramstad, a popular nine-term Republican who's not seeking re-election. AARP sponsored the debate, which also covered food and energy prices, home foreclosures and other economic issues.

The 3rd District is a collection of western Twin Cities suburbs. About one in 10 residents are senior citizens.

The candidates were asked about the "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug coverage, a gap that forces seniors to cover their costs out of pocket. All three said they favored fixes.

Madia, an Iraq war veteran and attorney, and Paulsen, a state legislator and former Republican House majority leader, clashed over whether Medicare should negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.

Madia pushed for negotiation, while Paulsen cited a federal study that said it wouldn't save the government any money. Dillon, a businessman, scoffed at that.

On the doughnut hole, Madia proposed streamlining insurance policies that cover the gap and having doctors talk directly to patients about them. Paulsen said he favors more direct communication about coverage between patients and doctors.

Dillon suggested that health savings accounts could reshape health care spending over the long run.

Other issues:

On Iraq, Madia and Paulsen describe their positions differently but they're not that far apart. Paulsen doesn't want a "precipitous" withdrawal, but said troops could continue to come home and would probably be out in less than two years. Madia supports a phased withdrawal over 18 to 24 months. Dillon wants to reduce military spending.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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