Clinton, Spencer face off in second debate

(New York - WABC, October 22, 2006) (WABC) -- There were some surprises in today's debate between U.S. Senate candidates, Republican John Spencer and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton seen here live on ABC channel 7.

Spencer found himself in unfamiliar territory, unexpectedly praising Clinton as possible presidential candidate in 2008.

"Eyewitness News" political reporter Dave Evans has more details on the face-off.

It is the issue Hillary Clinton faces all the time. And it was the first question in our debate. Is she running for president or not?

Sen. Hillary Clinton, Democrat: "If it is a concern and if people are, you know, thinking about it, then, they should balance that against everything that I have done."

But the question here was: could Clinton promise now to serve a full, six-year-term if re-elected.

"I am not looking past this election." Clinton said.

Then, the debate took an odd turn when her opponent, John Spencer, said Clinton would make a great candidate for president.

John Spencer, Republican: "Absolutely, she should be. If she believes she is next candidate for president. But I wouldn't be voting for her."

Spencer went on defending Clinton when we introduced a time magazine cover with the headline "Love her. Hate her."

Spencer: "The word hate is not a good word. I happen to like Hillary Clinton."

As anti-war protesters chanted outside of the studio, Hillary Clinton defended her vote inside authorizing the president to go to war.

Clinton: "If we had known then what we know now, there would not have been a vote and there would not have been a war."

Spencer: "Maybe they don't know what they're voting for when they send people to war. Maybe they should think about what a war is."

Surprisingly, Bill Clinton came to our debate and later campaigned in Brooklyn with his wife where he weighed in how things went.

"I thought she was great. I thought she was great," Bill Clinton said.

Neither Clinton would say a thing on the possibility Senator Barack Obama of Illinois now he says might also run in 2008.

On Friday and today in our debate, Spencer's line of attack was saying Clinton would be a part-time senator if she runs for president. But that issue doesn't appear to have much of an impact with voters. Clinton still leads Spencer by a two to one margin.

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