Well, that was a first in my experience – the simultaneous live and Twitter debate for governor of Idaho. @AJforIdaho wins the prize for the most live tweets, @OtterforIdaho for the most polite ones. Both candidates made creative use of hashtags, though @OtterforIdaho didn’t use one in his final tweet: “Thank you to CDA for hosting the debate. We will continue building a brighter future and protecting Idaho values. Make sure to vote 11/4.” Balukoff’s final tweet of the debate: “'If you have doubts about where #Idaho is headed, maybe it's time to take a chance and elect someone new.’ #IDpol” That tweet included a link to an Idaho State Journal editorial that didn’t make endorsements, but urged voters to get informed about all the candidates, in all races, and closed with that line. (@AJforIdaho did follow that up with a thank-you tweet a few minutes later.)

Judging from afar, it looked like a lively debate in which the candidates mixed it up and the gloves came off.