The Associated Press: on Budget & Economy

Robin Carnahan: 2008 bank bailout helped Wall Street, not ordinary people

Blunt defended the financial legislation, noting that much of the money already has been repaid. He contrasted the bailout with the 2009 federal stimulus package, which Blunt described as a "huge mistake" and a "huge waste of money." Blunt said the stimulus is not helping the economy. "It didn't have the impact on the economy that the president promised, and we should have known from day one that it wouldn't have," Blunt said.

Roy Blunt: Bailout ok; stimulus package a huge mistake

Blunt defended the financial legislation, noting that much of the money already has been repaid. He contrasted the bailout with the 2009 federal stimulus package, which Blunt described as a "huge mistake" and a "huge waste of money." Blunt said the stimulus is not helping the economy. "It didn't have the impact on the economy that the president promised, and we should have known from day one that it wouldn't have," Blunt said.

Charlie Crist: Supports economic stimulus and some parts of ObamaCare

"You think government creates jobs," Rubio said to Meek, cutting him off.

"No, I don't," Meek said.

"You do," Rubio said.

"I think tax cuts for small businesses create jobs and incentives for local communities to move forward," Meek said

Crist added, "What you just witnessed is the problem and the reason I'm running as an independent. These two guys are going at each other because one's the Republican right, one's the Democratic left. What's true is there are good things that both parties can present to the future of our country." Crist, who supported the economic stimulus and said he likes some things in the health care law but that it needs to be fixed, portrayed himself as a centrist who backs the best policies of each party.

Kendrick Meek: For economic stimulus, ObamaCare, & repealing Bush tax cuts

"You think government creates jobs," Rubio said to Meek, cutting him off.

"No, I don't," Meek said.

"You do," Rubio said.

"I think tax cuts for small businesses create jobs and incentives for local communities to move forward," Meek said.

Crist added, "What you just witnessed is the problem and the reason I'm running as an independent. These two guys are going at each other because one's the Republican right, one's the Democratic left. What's true is there are good things that both parties can present to the future of our country."

John Neely Kennedy: Be concerned about economy, but not scared

Landrieu, meanwhile, continued to push herself as a centrist senator who works across party lines and has brought home billions of dollars in aid to Louisiana during her 12 years in Congress, particularly since the blows of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. “Send me back to continue to fight for you, to deliver for you,” she said.

Mary Landrieu: Opposed $700 billion bailout; not enough taxpayer safeguards

Landrieu opposed the $700 billion financial market bailout backed by the White House and approved by Congress. But she also said that she supports government-guaranteed loans between banks and the use of federal tax dollars to buy stocks in banks to shore up the financial system: both plans pushed by the Bush administration, using the authority and money from the bailout bill.

When he was allowed to ask Landrieu a question, Kennedy asked why she now supports elements of the bailout bill: “What made you change your mind?”

“I didn’t change my mind,” she replied. “I did vote against the bailout package because I didn’t think there were enough safeguards for taxpayers.”

Jeff Sessions: Bailout well-intentioned, but too much federal intervention

Figures said people are “really finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Look where we are. We went from a nation in the black to a nation in the red. Now we’re up to trillions of dollars in the red,” she said. “My opponent voted with the president 98 percent of the time.”

But Sessions broke with the Bush administration in voting against the financial bailout bill on Oct. 1. “Though well-intentioned, the administration’s plan represents unprecedented governmental intervention in the economy,” Sessions said in a statement. Sessions said he doesn’t believe in “protecting reckless investors” but supports “maintaining a healthy framework for investment.”

Figures said she doesn’t think anybody will be immune from the financial crisis. Without action by Congress, she said more jobs will be lost.

Vivian Davis Figures: GOP turned nation from surplus to deficit, and jobs get lost

Figures said people are “really finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Look where we are. We went from a nation in the black to a nation in the red. Now we’re up to trillions of dollars in the red,” she said. “My opponent voted with the president 98 percent of the time.”

But Sessions broke with the Bush administration in voting against the financial bailout bill on Oct. 1. “Though well-intentioned, the administration’s plan represents unprecedented governmental intervention in the economy,” Sessions said in a statement. Sessions said he doesn’t believe in “protecting reckless investors” but supports “maintaining a healthy framework for investment.”

Figures said she doesn’t think anybody will be immune from the financial crisis. Without action by Congress, she said more jobs will be lost.

Betty Castor: No tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits

CASTOR: Deficits are a drag on our economy and a burden on our children. I would vote for middle-class tax cuts, but I would not vote to give even more tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits and struggling to pay for a war and other priorities. I would close the loopholes that let powerful corporations get away with sheltering taxes overseas and not paying their fair share. I would fight waste, fraud and abuse in government spending

MARTINEZ: Our budget should reflect this nation’s goals and purpose, and advance our three highest priorities. First, America must prevail in the war on terror. Second, we must continue to strengthen our homeland defenses. Third, we must build on the economic recovery that began in earnest in 2003 with policies that further promote growth and job creation. The government must limit discretionary spending growth, focus on the results of government programs, and cut wasteful spending.

Mel Martinez: Promote growth and job creation to reduce the deficit

CASTOR: Deficits are a drag on our economy and a burden on our children. I would vote for middle-class tax cuts, but I would not vote to give even more tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits and struggling to pay for a war and other priorities. I would close the loopholes that let powerful corporations get away with sheltering taxes overseas and not paying their fair share. I would fight waste, fraud and abuse in government spending

MARTINEZ: Our budget should reflect this nation’s goals and purpose, and advance our three highest priorities. First, America must prevail in the war on terror. Second, we must continue to strengthen our homeland defenses. Third, we must build on the economic recovery that began in earnest in 2003 with policies that further promote growth and job creation. The government must limit discretionary spending growth, focus on the results of government programs, and cut wasteful spending.

Dick Cheney: In 1980s, US needed limited spending for deficit & Cold War

Cheney credited Reagan with ending the Cold War, which he said led to the end of deficits. He suggested that Clinton deserves little credit for the good economic times; saying his appointment of Alan Greenspan was his only accomplishment. “I don’t think the economy suddenly turned around when Clinton and Gore arrived in Washington,” he said.

John McCain: Distribute surplus: 23% tax cuts; 62% Social Security

John Kasich: Against ethanol subsidies, and all subsidies