EDITOR'S NOTE: Some post-debate thoughts after Sunday's Tom Kean-Rebecca Bennett match-up, the only one of the CD-7 campaign.

Not many people watch congressional debates online. That's just the reality and having it on C-Span does not necessarily mean a ratings bonanza.

So, what can be important are "clips" of what the candidates said - important, that is, to their opponents' campaign.

To that end, Kean said two things with which Team Bennett should have a field day.
In a rapid-fire segment near the end of the debate, the candidates were asked to offer a "thumbs down," or "thumbs up" to a series of questions.

Some were silly (more about that later), but others were substantive. Like - is the U.S. winning the war in Iran?

"Yes we are," Kean said, giving a thumbs-up. Some in the audience jeered. Bennett gave a thumbs-down.

The politics here is unmistakable. The war in Iran is unpopular by any polling measure. Supporting it is not a good place to be right now politically.

Kean also stumbled earlier in the debate about tariffs.

He supports them, saying they're an answer to unfair trade practices. But he also said they are up to the president.

Bennett said they are up to Congress.
It's not as if tariffs have not been in the news. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year nullified many of President Trump's tariffs.

Why? It said simply that power rests with Congress.

* * *

If there was a takeaway the Kean campaign could use, it has to do with money. A TV ad on the congressman's behalf says Bennett is a "millionaire."

There is some gall here to be sure. Kean, who estimated his net worth at $10 million, is hardly a pauper. His ancestors could be on the "Gilded Age," - an HBO TV show for those who don't follow this sort of stuff.

Bennett was asked, but declined to reveal her net worth, She also did not point out the hypocrisy of the Kean campaign suggesting that her wealth makes her something other than an average resident of the district.

On Monday, a spokesperson for Bennett said:

“Tom Kean Jr. is stooping to personal attacks against Rebecca, because he knows he’s in big trouble with the people he’s supposed to serve. He got up on the debate stage and defended tariffs, the war in Iran, and cuts to healthcare while failing to answer for being one of the most prolific stock traders in Congress. Meanwhile, Rebecca has already divested all of her individual stocks and will be laser focused on tackling the cost of living crisis and taking on corruption in Washington."

* * *

Back to the "thumbs-up," and "thumbs-down" segment.

One of the questions was the "renaming" of Lake Ontario, Lake America.

Bennett, obviously, gave it a thumbs-down.

But so did Kean - a sign, albeit small, of independence.

Another question was about whether the candidates would support Alexandria Ocasio Cortez for president. It was hypothetical - probably.

Kean said no, but so did Bennett, prompting jeers from some in the audience.

Interesting. The Democratic Party has moved left, meaning there may have been a lot of AOC supporters in the crowd.

* * *

So, how did each candidate view the debate?

The Bennett campaign has made a number of social media posts about the debate, including showing photos of numerous watch parties.

In contrast, the only post by mid-afternoon Monday on Kean's campaign Facebook page was of supporters holding signs before the debate began.