Thread by @NCCapTonight

We are just seconds away from the #NC09 debate between @MarkHarrisNC9 and @McCreadyForNC! #ncpol

And we're live from uptown Charlotte! #NC09 #ncpol

#NC09 District is one of the hotly-contested races for the US House. It went for Pres. Trump in 2016, but it seen as a toss-up, and one that nat'l Dems are working to flip. #ncpol

First Q: National debt: What would you cut to fix it. McCready: Close tax loopholes. Run gov't like a business. Don't support tax law that increases nat'l debt. #NC09 #ncpol

Harris on nat'l debt: Have to pay down debt by cut spending. Tax bill has stimulated economy. #NC09 #ncpol

McCready: The tax bill has not done enough for the middle class. Much of the tax cuts help the the rich. #NC09 #ncpol

2nd Q to Harris: Would you keep your support with Pres. Trump, when some other GOPers have left him? Harris: This president has simply been doing what he said he would do. #NC09 #ncpol

McCready to Harris: You are not running against Nancy Pelosi. You are running against me. #NC09 #ncpol

3rd Q to McCready: You have said you wouldn't voting for Nancy Pelosi for House Speaker. What will you do? McCready: Won't vote for Pelosi. Plan to form a bipartisan caucus to bridge divide. #NC09 #ncpol

Harris: McCready still has not answered the question re: Pelosi. I will support all the GOP candidates for House Speaker. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: I will not be voting for Nancy Pelosi or Paul Ryan. I will vote for a new leader. #NC09 #ncpol

4Q to Harris: Do you believe that climate change is real, humans have an effect? Harris: I do believe the earth is getting warmer, but don't believe the body of evidence supports that humans are having an effect. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: Climate change is real, and a moral imperative. Says Harris & McCready agree: US is a clean energy leader. Mentions his solar energy business. #NC09 #ncpol

Harris rebuts: Appreciate that we agree on US clean energy. But McCready's business is built on the backs of energy ratepayers. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready rebuts Harris: I would take clean energy jobs and grow those jobs if I go to Washington. #NC09 #ncpol

Harris on country over party: I called out GOP for increased federal spending earlier this year. That spending bill should not have been passed in its entirety. #NC09 #ncpol

McCready: I would not support shutting down gov't if I didn't get my way. #NC09 #ncpol

6Q to Harris: How would you represent all people in #NC09? Harris: Have a 30-yr record of being a pastor, serving all. Have not been a part of the swamp, I can fix the swamp. #ncpol

McCready: Harris has said he will join House Freedom Caucus, not someone who puts country over party. #NC09 #ncpol

Harris: Sick and tired of my record being misrepresented. You can call House Freedom Caucus extreme, but they are men and women who stand on principle. #NC09 #ncpol

7Q on immigration: When is the border secure? McCready: We need to secure the border, but immigration policy should reflect our values, stop tearing children from parents. #NC09 #ncpol

Harris: Pres. Trump said it clearly: Only way to secure border is to build the wall. Building the wall will secure the border, look at evidence where wall has been built. Immigration is down there. We must build the wall. #NC09 #ncpol

8Q to Harris: How should the president use tariffs to answer China on trade? Harris: I believe in free trade, tariffs are not a long-term solution. Pres. Trump is renegotiating trade deals. Let time take its effect. #NC09 #ncpol

McCready: Need to stand up with China, level the playing field. Appreciate the president for addressing the issue, but tariffs must be a part of a more comprehensive plan. #NC09 #ncpol

9Q to McCready: Where do you stand on term limits? McCready: Term limits could be a part of fixing the problem in Washington. #nc09 #ncpol

Harris: I'm for term limits. I've pledged to support term limit legislation. The public support is there, only way to break backs of special interests running Washington. #nc09 #ncpol

Viewer questions now: Plans for representing on eastern part of the #nc09 district. Harris: District is one of most diverse, need to protect that. Farmers facing class-action suits. #ncpol

McCready: ENC needs a fighter for our fair share of federal tax money. Worst thing for ENC is for Harris to be elected. Will cut social safety net programs. #nc09 #ncpol

Harris: There he goes again. I have said again and again: I will not cut Social Security. #nc09 #ncpol

Viewer question to Harris: Why should I support you after your comments about women? Harris: Part of the strategy by Dems to blow an old sermon out of context. Did not suggest womens' careers should end if they have children. Will stand up to attacks on my faith. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: Women should have a place at the table. #nc09 #ncpol

Viewer question on secondary education. McCready: We need to re-think education system, open up pathways to tradeships. #nc09 #ncpol

Harris: Dept of Education is taking tax money. We need trade schools. But if Dan is interested in that, he should be running for NC House. Fed gov't should stay out of education. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: Dept of Education providing funding for low-income students. #nc09 #ncpol

Audience question: Any issues that you agree on? Harris: We both agree on education policy, but that is a state issue. We both say we agree there is too much money in politics. McCready is being supported by big outside money. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: You don't see me complaining about outside money against me. Harris: They don't want to talk about the issues. I've been mischaracterized. #nc09 #ncpol

Was the Iraq War a mistake? McCready: I think it was a mistake. I did feel a calling to serve. That's the kind of leadership we need in Washington -- not Dems or GOP first, but Americans first. #nc09 #ncpol

Harris: If we look back, WMDs were not found in Iraq. If you are going to put America's blood & treasure at risk, it better be a strong national security need. #nc09 #ncpol

Audience Q on pre-existing conditions to Harris: We support pre-existing conditions should be a part of any health care reform plan. I've made that clear. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: The GOP health care bill Harris supported would've ripped away pre-existing coverage for thousands in #nc09 district. #ncpol

Q: What makes you special enough to break gridlock Washington? McCready: We need people of courage to lead. We need people to care about what people of NC deserve. #nc09 #ncpol

Harris: As a pastor, I have walked through life with many people, and that's what we need in Washington, people who understand the issues of the people. #nc09 #ncpol

Q on redistricting to Harris: Independent commission has to be appointed, will have a bias. Framers had it right, leave redistricting to #ncga. #nc09 #ncpol

McCready: Partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional, and flat-out wrong. We need new blood in Washington and Raleigh and let the people choose their representatives, not the other way around. #nc09 #ncpol

Closing statements now, McCready starts: Harris has said he would cut Social Security/Medicare. Race is between someone who believes in country over party, & someone who wants to continue divisive politics. #nc09 #ncpol

Harris closing statement: Have been smeared as an extremist. If I am an extremist because I'll believe the Bible, I'll take it. McCready will not tell the truth about his liberal agenda. You deserve a congressman who will take a stand and will stand for you. #nc09 #ncpol

And that's the end of the #nc09 debate! Thanks for watching! Tune into Capital Tonight on Thursday for a NC Supreme Court debate. That's 7 pm on @SpecNewsRDU @SpecNewsTriad @SpecNewsCLT @SpecNewsTriad #ncpol