Elizabeth Dole in 2008 NC Senate Debate

On Energy & Oil: Release 1/3 of the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve

On Immigration: Help sheriffs identify illegal immigrants among suspects

Hagan erred in faulting that program as an “unfunded federal mandate.” Dole corrected: It’s neither mandatory nor unfunded. But she went on to accuse Hagan, falsely, of voting in the legislature to make it easier for illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses. Several times, Democrats killed measures to make it tougher before eventually approving stronger requirements, but Hagan never eased restrictions.

Dole insisted Hagan did vote on one occasion to make it easier for illegal immigrants to obtain a North Carolina driver’s license, citing the 2001 state appropriations act.

Hagan responded that that “measure was attached to the 2001 state budget bill and did not require people to prove that they were in the country legally, but did require people to show proof of residency and taxpayer identification. Hagan voted for the budget.”

On Principles & Values: Has spent time in all 100 counties while Senator

Yet, Dole doesn’t appear to be lacking in energy. Countering criticisms that she’s out North Carolina, she said twice during the 45-minute debate that she’s spent time in all 100 counties since her election in 2002. She’s already aired TV ads pointedly placing her in several cities and towns around the state.

On War & Peace: Precipitous Iraq withdrawal leads to further instability

On Immigration: Crackdown on illegal immigrants who commit crimes

But Hagan suggested that Dole did not have much to boast about. “This is another example of where Washington is broken,” Hagan said. “Senator Dole has been in Washington for over 40 years. This problem has been there for a very long time. Since the Bush administration began, we currently have another five million illegal immigrants in this country.“

Hagan said she supported increased border security and opposed amnesty. But she said immigration was really a federal problem, rather than a state one and dismissed the sheriffs’ program as ”patchwork“ program and an unfunded federal mandate on the states.

On Principles & Values: Broad experience in Washington & major-league clout

Hagan said Dole had voted with President Bush 92% of the time. “People talk a lot about experience, a lot about major-league clout,” Hagan said. “But consider this: When it comes to Sen. Dole and her 40 years’ experience in Washington, experience just means a way of doing business--a way of doing business that puts special interests and their lobbyists before working families.“

Dole mainly talked about her broad experience in Washington, her efforts to save North Carolina military bases from closing and her role in the federal tobacco buyout program. Dole said she wanted to run a positive campaign and called on Hagan to oppose any TV ad campaigns by third parties--a challenge to which Hagan did not respond.

On Tax Reform: Sales tax, income tax, food tax, liquor tax: it’s too much

On War & Peace: Mistakes were made, but no precipitous withdrawal from Iraq

Dole warned against “a precipitous withdrawal” but said Iraq needs to begin picking up the costs of reconstruction. “I have been very frustrated that the administration was so slow in changing a strategy that was obviously not working,” Dole said. “Many mistakes were made.

On Immigration: Link local sheriffs to federal immigration tools

Dole’s advertisement comes one day after Hagan met with six sheriffs to discuss immigration. Hagan said she supports the idea of county-federal partnerships that put illegal immigrants who commit crimes on the path to deportation. But unlike other candidates for top statewide office, including Dole, Hagan told a group of sheriffs that she has some major concerns about how officials are proceeding with the program. “The citizens of North Carolina pay federal taxes,” Hagan told a half-dozen sheriffs during a round-table in Raleigh. “Immigration is certainly a federal issue, and the federal government cannot be throwing another unfunded federal mandate down on us at the state level.”

Dole has been a leading advocate for the program.