By Mike Baker (AP)

Wilmington - North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall quickly diverged from each other Saturday on how the government should handle the nation's economy and debt.
In a joint appearance coming just days after Marshall won her party's nomination, Burr repeatedly highlighted the nation's $13 trillion debt that's expected to continue growing. He warned that the United States could soon be compared to countries like Greece that are buckling under the weight of their obligations.

"The answer is: Let's stop spending," Burr said. He acknowledged after the event that Republicans have been part...

Greensboro News & Record
The most telling exchange of the debate, I thought, came on a question about the federal deficit and whether Congress should be reining in spending or helping the states.

Marshall: "Right now is not the time to be cutting back,” Marshall said, adding that lax federal regulation had caused some of the states’ budget problems, so it was right that the states should chip in. She used the occasion to attack Burr for voting against the extension of unemployment insurance, citing examples of teachers and police officers going on unemployment. (My inner political consultant says: Classic Democratic position, bonus points...