At one point during Sunday’s CD-7 debate, Sue Altman said of her opponent – Thomas H. Kean Jr.:

“Your absence has created a vacuum and we’re filling it with leadership.”

She was talking about Kean’s habit of avoiding unfiltered interactions with the press and public.

Kean responded that the “vast majority of people in this district prefer I come to them.”

He spoke of telephone town halls, but in truth, his answer made little sense.

What Kean did do – time and time again – was label Altman as a far-left extremist, who backs legalizing all drugs and letting cop killers out of jail.

She said he was totally wrong.

Kean said that has been the position of the Working Families Party, for which Altman once worked.

Altman said none of that is her position.

The race in CD-7, which covers at least parts of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties, is the most interesting in New Jersey this year.

The district tilts Republican, but Team Altman is talking about a pair of internal polls that have the candidates a mere two points apart.

The debate, which was sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, On New Jersey, and the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, was the only one of the campaign.

That may seem surprising, but given Kean’s aversion to public sparring, perhaps not.

There was some common ground here, but not much.

For instance, in a seemingly light-hearted “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” portion of the debate, both candidates said they believed there are “extraterrestrials” living somewhere in the universe.

Talk about illegal aliens

Back on Earth, both Altman and Kean had a central goal. Simply stated, the other guy, or gal, is just out of step with the affluent, mostly suburban, district.

Altman attacked Kean for his support of Donald Trump and the MAGA-agenda. She said Kean calls himself a moderate, but he twice has had Speaker Mike Johnson in the district to help him raise money.

“You seem like a really nice guy, but right now, what we need is political courage,” Altman said.

Kean, repeatedly, said Altman would be unable to shed  her political roots, claiming that she has – and will always – support increased spending, more taxes and “defunding the police.”

Altman did offer a tweet during the aftermath of the George Floyd murder about defunding the police. She now says that was a mistake and has apologized for it.

The candidates were asked if they supported Trump’s goal to immediately deport illegal immigrants.

Altman said “no.”

Kean said one would need to start with those who have committed crimes.

Altman responded:

“Congressman, you just dodged the question.”

Another somewhat substantive exchange was about energy and the environment.

Kean condemned Altman’s support for the “Green New Deal” and said America needs to be “energy independent again.”

Just for the record, the United States is producing about 13.2 million barrels of oil a day, the most in its history.

Kean brought up the Green New Deal more than once, prompting Altman to crack:

“I don’t even know if you can name what’s in the Green New Deal.”
She added that there is nothing radical about investing in public transportation or saving land from development.
In fact, she said many New Jersey Republicans of the past, including Christie Whitman and “your father” backed strong environmental protection.
True. But it’s a very different Republican Party these days.

The moderators said afterwards that there was so much back and forth that they could not get to all of the planned questions.

Altman said she’s ready for another debate.

Don’t bet on it.