Davis goes on attack in final debate against Abbott

DALLAS, TX (KTRK) -- In a wide-ranging debate Tuesday night, State Senator Wendy Davis was on the attack. Behind in most polling, this second of two face-to-face debates was perhaps her last best opportunity to stake her claim with a large Texas audience. Attorney General Greg Abbott is the odd-son favorite to win the governor's race in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to a statewide post in 15 years.

With the news late Tuesday that a man hospitalized in Dallas has tested positive for the Ebola virus, the debate began with questions about how the candidates would handle Ebola, should a patient test positive while they were in office. Both indicated they'd already been in touch with state or local officials and praised the state for its preparedness. Neither said they would handle the situation differently that is currently the case.

They both touted their education plans and improving the state's low ranking dollar-per-student ratio. Abbott said he would add $1,500 per student in grades Pre-K through 3. And he said the crux of his plan is to focus on early childhood education. He did not offer an overall cost or explain how the state would pay for it without raising taxes. Davis attacked Abbott, saying his plan adds standardized testing for Pre-K students, while she is in favor of reducing the number of standardized tests in middle and elementary schools. Abbott fired back that he's not in favor of more testing, but wants to assure all Texas third graders and read, write, and do math at grade level.

On the question of providing driving permits for undocumented immigrants, Davis said she supports it. Abbott is against it. Both favor comprehensive immigration reform.

The testiest moment of the night came when the two were asked about Obamacare and the state's denial of those federal funds. Davis said those monies are going to other states despite Texans sending hard-earned money to Washington. She called Abbott, "California's best friend in Texas" for refusing to accept the monies. Abbott fired back that her suggestion was as big a lie as President Obama's assurance that if taxpayers liked their current insurance under Obamacare they could keep it. That, of course, turned out not to be the case for thousands of insured Americans.

One other heated exchange happened during the discussion about the administration of the Texas Enterprise Fund, a pool of state money intended to help businesses create jobs in the state. Recent reports reveal that millions of dollars may have gone to companies that didn't even apply for the funding. Some of those companies were donors to Abbott. He insists his office did nothing improper nor did he.