Carney’s debate performance WOW’s sceptics

That would be a surprising headline, wouldn’t it? Alas, it would be hard to be wowed by the softballs lobbed by Nancy Karibjellynean or Carney’s predictably flavorless responses.

Rep. John Carney’s goal of strengthening America’s middle class was his primary message in Wednesday’s Delaware Debate.

Carney says bolstering and re-growing the US’s manufacturing sector is key to doing that, but properly training future workers is a concern.

Moderators asked about Wilmington’s crime problem, which the congressman says also boils down to education and contributes to the lack of ready employees.

“When they are not successful and they’re not able to graduate from high school – 50 percent of the kids in the City of Wilmington don’t graduate high school,” said Carney. “If you can’t get to that point in the economy that we live in today, you don’t have many opportunities.”

A new University of Delaware poll found that 56 percent of state residents supported fully legalizing marijuana, but Carney says he’s “hesitant” about supporting that and that it should be a state issue. He did indicate a willingness to examine decriminalizing marijuana as an option.

He also said that future international investment should also focus on Central American countries to help stem the flow of children crossing the southern border.

Carney appeared alone at the debate after Republican challenger Rose Izzo withdrew two weeks ago.