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Roberts and Orman Face Off In Final Debate

Abigail Wilson

Senator Pat Roberts appeared in his final debate against Independent candidate Greg Orman in Wichita on Wednesday night. The two are in a close battle, which could determine whether Democrats maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate.

Local NBC affiliate KSN provided the two candidates one last go at one another.

The conversation quickly turned to foreign affairs and what should be done with the militant Islamic group calling itself the Islamic State. Independent Greg Orman sounded supportive of current operations.

“I do believe we need to follow the air campaign that we’re doing, we need to protect the diplomatic assets on the ground and we need to train the Iraqis to be able to solve that problem in their country with our support,” Orman says.

Roberts countered that President Obama is waging a war by himself and that he has a responsibility to speak with Congress over his future military plans in the Middle East.

Roberts also continued his effort to paint Orman as a liberal Democrat. When asked repeatedly what to do about illegal immigration, Roberts gave similar responses.

“You’re not going to make any progress, in regards to immigration, as long as the majority leader, Harry Reid, stays in power,” Roberts says.

He added that if Orman is elected, that gridlock will continue.

Orman says he believes in securing America’s borders, but industries in Kansas depend on many of the undocumented workers already here, and that deportation is not a solution.