Smackdown#2: Ritter vs. Beauprez on Channel Six

7:25 p.m - Once again, I consider the pointlessness of live-blogging a taped debate. Especially since this time there's actually a debate lag, as Ritter and Beauprez have already met again at the Gubernatorial Technology Community Forum. Once again, I decide to do it anyway. If I haven't seen it, it's new to me.

7:30 p.m - They won't be timing the debate. They encourage the candidates to interrupt each other. My wife asks if they'll be allowed to kick each other in the crotch.

7:32 p.m - They ask Beauprez about the Both Ways Bob label. He blames it on liberals skewing his voting record. He claims he didn't flip-flop on Ref C, which everyone knows is false. They ask Ritter about his inexperience and the lies spread about him in the recent ads from the Trailhead Group. Ritter throws out about a million statistics to refute this. Score this round for Ritter, 1-0.

7:37 p.m. - The editor of the Rocky asks Ritter about his position on other social issues and Ritter highlights A and Ref C. He manages to throw light on Beauprez's flip-flop on community colleges. I'm feeling pretty good about this debate. Where's my martini?

7:40 p.m. - Ritter goes after Beauprez again, pointing out that Beauprez admitted Colorado had huge budget problems, but never came up with a permanent fix. 2-0.

7:44 p.m. - The editor of the News says its unclear where Ritter stands on the Beauprez tax cuts. He should have asked me. It's not like it's a big secret. Nonetheless, it gives Beauprez the excuse to do some fuzzy math and promise all of Colorado a "small but significant" tax cut, whatever that is. Ritter points out that Beauprez has a history of voting for tax cuts and budget increases simultaneously. Beauprez promises he can cut taxes and set up a rainy day fund without cutting any programs. I can't believe anybody is buying this. 3-0.

7:51 p.m. - "What's the political position you held in college that you have changed the most on?" Beauprez says he used to think government's role was to solve problems, but now believes that government should be an "enabler" that creates an environment where people can succeed, and then he spins on a dime and says the best government is the one that gets out of the way. Did he just flip-flop again in the space of a couple sentences? I am so shocked I miss Ritter's answer completely, so I can't score this round.

7:55 p.m. - Quick hits on I and other ballot issues. No surprises here.

8:00 p.m. - One of my biggest regrets from "live"-blogging the first televised debate was that I didn't give Beauprez enough points. Upon repeated watchings, I became convinced that the debate was closer than I'd originally thought, and Ritter had won by only a couple of points. I had resolved to give Beauprez a fairer shake this time. But what can I say? Ritter came out swinging, stated his positions more clearly, and pointed out the inconsistencies between Beauprez's rhetoric and actions. Beauprez countered with promises that he could solve Colorado's budget crisis merely by shifting funds around - a Washington DC-style stunt if there ever was one.

Maybe I'm being biased. Or maybe Ritter won this one pretty cleanly.

Photo courtesy of Bill Ritter for Governor.