Gubernatorial candidates Bobby Jindal and Kathleen Blanco agreed in a Sunday night debate that they will not use each other's names in negative campaign ads, but there's no such agreement in campaign speeches - or, as it turned out, debates.

Blanco, who has referred to Jindal in speeches as being young, reckless and inexperienced and in need of "training wheels" to run the state, said she has never run a negative campaign ad and that Jindal is the only one who has done so.

As he does in what Blanco labeled a "negative ad," Jindal repeatedly asked Blanco on Sunday to stop criticizing him and stick to issues.

"I do consider some of the things my opponent has said about me to be negative," he said. "Voters want to get beyond the name-calling and mudslinging."

The candidates exchanged questions and were questioned by John Hill, chief of the Gannett Capital Bureau, Robert Travis Scott, chief of the Times Picayune Capital Bureau, and hosts Beth Courtney of Louisiana Public Broadcasting and Barry Erwin of the Council for A Better Louisiana. The debate was broadcast statewide on LPB stations from the campus of Centenary College.

Blanco said Jindal insulted her when he complained she was acting like an old-style politician. "No one wants to be called old, no matter how old you are," she said.

Blanco complained about how Gov. Mike Foster has criticized her, especially when he suggested that her husband controls her. She said his "third party interference" is planned with Jindal and "it's trying to fool the people of Louisiana."

Jindal called Blanco's contention "a smokescreen. We did repudiate his remarks."

As she did in a Shreveport debate a week ago, Blanco jabbed regularly at Jindal's record and promoted herself as having "lived an exemplary public life," serving in the Legislature and in the Public Service Commission and two terms as lieutenant governor.



She questioned his qualifications as head of the University of Louisiana System, which she said was supposed to be filled with a person having a Ph.D. and experience in managing universities.

He responded that the U.L. Board of Supervisors was looking for someone who had experience managing a large state department, which he had from running the Department of Health and Hospitals. University management boards across the country wanted business managers, not academic leaders, because they already have those on campuses, he said.

Centenary students following the debate were put off by both camps.

"They said 'Let's focus on the issues' when they didn't," said Ann Nguyen, a sophomore biology major from Cincinnati, though she's registered to vote in Louisiana. "I expected to get more out of it than I did."

Theater major Mary Beth Smith of Bossier City saw a bit of her profession in the event.

"Well, there was drama," she said. "Name-calling. There was way too much focus on their egos being hurt rather than on the issues, even though they said they wanted to focus on the issues."

That was the sentiment as well of Justin Breitschopf, a senior business administration major from Bossier City.

"I was surprised the majority of the debate focused on the negative aspects," he said. "It seemed almost immature."

Regardless, the candidates continued the back-and-forth through the hour.

Blanco questioned why Jindal accepted a pay raise in the 1990s when numerous state jobs were being eliminated and health coverage was being cut.

Jindal responded that he never heard Blanco say anything about health care in all her years in state government until the runoff campaign. He said that as lieutenant governor, she repeatedly increased the tourism budget and invested millions of dollars in parks.

"If you felt so strongly, why didn't you spend some of that money that you spent on parks on health care instead?" he asked.

Jindal questioned why Blanco wants to call several task forces to study state problems, when action is needed now. He pointed to plans he has proposed after consulting with health care providers and others interested in solving problems.

"The way you approach it is bureaucratic and there's no room for input," she said.

"I hope you provide details instead of asking us to just trust you," he countered, noting her planning to expand services and pay providers more but offering no way to fund it.

When they weren't jousting, the candidates did agree on several points, including selling bonds to build highways now before costs go up and reducing business taxes. They also say the governor should be actively involved in pursuing new jobs for the state.