7:56pm:  The candidates are delivering their closing arguments.  DG and BM seemed to speak off the cuff.  MP is reading prepared remarks.  The candidates are now shaking hands.

This debate was much more feisty than last night’s face off between the Republicans running against Sen. Chuck Schumer!!! Stay tuned for post-debate recap…

7:50pm:  Liz asks Blakeman:

The Tea Party has become a force in the GOP – with some Republicans saying it is a positive influence to energize the grassroots.  Other worry it will only serve to divide the party.  Where do you stand and do you consider yourself a Tea Partier?

BM lauds the Tea Party movement and calls himself a Tea Partier.

MP says he has been to several Tea Party events with his family and says the grassroots efforts are crucial for changing the way government operates.

BM and MP engage each other over whether they’ve been endorsed by Tea Partiers.  BM says the movement does not endorse in primaries.

DG says America works best when the people speak.  Says the Tea Party is not an organized party.  Says it is people across America who are upset with the status quo.  He thinks it’s a blessing that so many people speaking up.  Says it is good for America.  More voices create competition.

BM engages MP again and slams him for giving money to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  MP says that isn’t true.  MP goes after BM for his record as “county executive.”  Says he wasn’t County Exec, which MP calls semantics.

7:45: Kaitlyn asks DioGuardi:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been accused of waffling on gun control.  Where do you stand on control issues and do you own any guns?

DG says he does not own a gun, but does support the Second Amendment.

BM says he does own a gun – A Smith and Wesson.  DG asks whether he has it on him and gets a laugh from the crowd.  (He doesn’t have it with him tonight, for the record.  Phew!)

Malpass does not own a gun.

7:38pm:  Erin asks Malpass:

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to meet next month with President Obama to work on a peace deal… With the goal of solidifying a plan to create a Palestinian state within the next year. Is Obama the right person to lead talks?

MP says the President is the right person to try to broker talks.  Says he is critical of Obama and Gillibrand for their timing on the issue and for not coming to the aid of Israel sooner. DG says that the good news is that there will be direct talks.  Says that we have to be careful when it comes to Israel not only because it is the only real ally we have in that part of the world, but because there are groups like Hamas that do not recognize Israel and you can’t talk with groups that do not recognize the nation.

BM says it is appropriate for any president to try to broker peace.  Says President is biased toward the Palestinians.  Thinks treatment of Netanyahu was deplorable.  Says we have a national security interest in Israel remaining strong. MP says that he doesn’t think there will be a successful outcome from the talks because Israel is not recognized. DG says that Israel has to agree to change for progress to be made.  Says where there are talks, there are hopes.  Admires the administration for pushing for that.  Agrees with BM that Obama cannot have a significant affect on the outcome. BM says he considered that Obama doesn’t appreciate the importance of the alliance between the US and Israel.

7:35pm:  The panelists have now resumed their questioning of the candidates.

Liz asks Blakeman:

Please say one nice thing about each of your opponents and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. BM says that he commends his opponents for running.  Thinks they are probably both good dads.  Says that Gillibrand is an attractive woman, who is bright and he believes to be a good mom. DG begins by asking how BM knows so much about GIllibrand.  Says that he admires BM for running for elected office even if he doesn’t agree with everything he did while in office.  Says that MP has a good education and is also a CPA (though he didn’t practice.)

Says DG doesn’t have as good experience as him because he has experience in Congress.  Says that whatever Gillibrand did to position herself to be appointed Senator over Caroline Kennedy was “clever.” MP says he admires Gillibrand work on nutrition issues.  Admires BM work on issues relating to first responders on 9/11.  MP says he is impressed by DG work on human rights issues involving the Albanian population.

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