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Branstad, Hatch set to face off in Burlington debate

The two men vying for the Iowa Governor’s mansion are set to face off in Burlington, Iowa, Saturday in the second of three public debates.

The two men vying for the Iowa Governor’s mansion are set to face off in Burlington, Iowa, Saturday in the second of three public debates.

Friday, Democratic challenger Sen. Jack Hatch spoke to rotary club members in Davenport, saying he expects economic development to be the focus of this weekend’s debate.

“We have an opportunity to really see tomorrow the two different visions of economic growth in the state, and so I expect that to draw a little bit of furor,” said Hatch.

Hatch and current Gov. Terry Branstad are at odds over over a fertilizer plant being built in Lee County by Egyptian company Orascom. Last week, Branstad toured the site and praised the thousands of construction jobs and nearly 165 permanent jobs the project is creating.

When the pair met for their first debate at the Iowa State Fair, though, Hatch called the Orascom agreement the dumbest deal in the history of the state.

“I agree that fertilizer is necessary for our agricultural economy and jobs are good, but [Branstad’s] spending $700,000 per job. That’s enormous. That is outrageous actually,” said Hatch.

“That was a stupid move, and he’s going to have to debate me in Burlington next, right near where that fertilizer plant is being built,” said Branstad.

The latest average of polls from RealClearPolitics.com has Branstad leading Hatch by nearly 52 percent to 36 percent.

Saturday’s debate will be at 7 p.m. in Burlington.

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