Brown, Warren Go Head to Head in Third Senate Debate

Sen. Scott Brown and challenger Elizabeth Warren met for their third debate on Wednesday night in Springfield, moderated by Jim Madigan. 

Possibly Brown's biggest moment of the debate was when he cornered Warren over the issue of the rising costs of higher education. Warren, a professor at Harvard University, noted that Brown voted against a bill that sought to keep student loan interests low, because it would have closed a loophole for millionaires. 

But Brown came back by saying the reason the costs of higher education are skyrocketing are because of administrative costs, like Warren's salary and benefits at Harvard. 

"Professor Warren makes about $350,000 to teach one course," he said. "She got a zero interest loan from Harvard and gets free housing and other perks."

Another big moment in the debate was when the two candidates were asked about what they could do to help the middle class.

Warren started by saying the middle class has been "hammered" by an "army of lobbyists."

"When you talk about hammering the middle class, I suggest you put down the hammer beacuse it's your regulations and your policities that are hurting U.S. families," Brown said, calling Warren a "hired gun" who earned thousands of dollars for representing large companies in court. 

Warren, without missing a beat, said she was glad Brown brought up regulations.

"I went to Washington to fight for a new consumer agency to fight to make sure people didn't get cheated on their mortgages, credit cards and student loans," she said. "And that baby agency has already returned more than half a billion dollars to consumers who have been cheated, and I'll continue to fight for that." 

Warren had her biggest moment of the debate during a question about how each would stand up to protect women's issues. Warren said Brown's record showed that he's had exactly one chance to vote for equal pay for equal work and for health insurance coverage of birth control, and voted against them each time. 

"Those are bad votes for women," she said. "The women of Massachusetts need a senator they can count on, not some of the time, but all of the time."

Did you watch the debate? Who do you think won? Tell us in the comments.