7:02 – Fisher is talking. He starts off with a series of tired rebuttals. “Wall Street v. Main Street,” “Washington v. Ohio” and “Exporting goods v. Exporting jobs.” He looks extremely smug, and doesn’t seem to be able to speak without an unnecessary pause. Goes on the attack almost immediately, without even talking about what he’s going to do. Mentions Portman’s funding – he must be bitter. Talks about Portman’s big donors, ignoring the fact that he’s taken money from some of the same people.

7:04 – Portman starting. Says “Toledo too often gets left out.” Sounds confident, smooth, empathetic and talks about what he’s seen in the state. He doesn’t look like an evil Wall Street lobbyist, which is going to damage Fisher. He uses a very mild tone in describing Lee Fisher’s record and dismisses Fisher’s attacks. Sounds optimistic on everything, and tells people to check out his “jobs plan.” Really focused on being positive.

7:06 – First Question for Lee Fisher: You’ve been critical of free trade, and yet Ohio’s trade exports have increased, so wouldn’t protectionism decrease Ohio’s prominence?

7:07 – Fisher answers that exports are good, but says the issue is whether exporting jobs is good. Says trade deficit means goods will be traded for jobs, “and that’s not a price anyone should be willing to pay.” Goes after China, and says he wants more trade, not less, more exports not less, and wants it to be fair and balanced. Fairly decent answer.

7:08 – Portman accuses Fisher of an anti-export, and really anti-Ohio candidacy. Accuses Fisher of “demagoguing on trade.” Mentions all the economic data underlying exports, and knocks Fisher down for the various things he’s supported. “He wants jobs to stay in America, but he supports higher taxes.” When Portman wants to go negative, he does it in a very understated way.

7:09 – Question 2: On trade again. “Even those who support free trade concede that certain sectors can fail against foreign competition. What do you say to people who’ve lost jobs to foreign countries?”

7:10 – Portman says trade is about two things – one being that we have a level playing field. Says he sued China, and was the first to do it, and won. That’s going to make Fisher’s job harder. “Export jobs pay more and have better benefits. We cannot allow ourselves not to continue to give Ohio workers those opportunities.” Says he’s not just a strong supporter of current trade agreements, but wants to adjust them, and then blasts Fisher’s record.

7:11 – Fisher starts mentioning various companies and says “it’s hard to look those men and women in the eye and say there isn’t damage done when we’ve had free trade.” Talks about jobs being lost because of NAFTA, China. “The bottom line is that we can do both and we must do both,” referring to protection and exports. Attacks Portman’s record on steel quotas. Purely negative answer.

7:12 – Question 3: Fisher, you were head of the Department of Development and the unemployment rate climbed. Why should people trust you?

7:13 – Fisher says every state in the country has been affected by the recession, and they can either hide from it or take some risks, like him and Strickland did. “If you’re unemployed, and there are too many people unemployed, the unemployment rate isn’t 10%, it’s 100%, but let’s be honest about this, it’s a national recession, and only one state has received recognition for bringing in jobs, and that’s Ohio.” That’s a strong answer, but it contradicts his earlier complaints about jobs being lost. Closes by blaming Portman and Bush.

7:15 – Portman accuses Fisher of insulting Ohio residents. “We’re falling behind, and these guys have not done the job, and now Lt. Gov Lee Fisher wants to take that record to Washington.” Points out his record visiting companies, and says these companies don’t want higher taxes, higher health care costs, and offers to take that to Washington, DC.

7:16 – Question 4 for Portman: You were in Congress and worked under Bush, but now you’re calling for less spending, so what would you cut and why do you have credibility?

7:17 – Portman says he’s always called for lower spending and criticizes Bush for not vetoing spending bill sooner. Says today’s deficit is nine times higher than what Bush’s was. “This is unconscionable for our kids and grandkids. We need to stop the spending now.”

7:18 – Fisher agrees with Portman about deficit and debt, and accuses him of leaving out history. He then says it’s all about Bush’s record deficit, so none of what Obama’s done is his fault. Accuses Portman of having a $500 billion deficit when he was Budget Director. Portman cuts in and says “No, it wasn’t.” Fisher’s clearly intimidated, then talks about how Portman wants to give money to “millionaires and billionaires.”