Delaware Senate hopefuls Smink and Wade outline their platforms [video]

The clock is ticking for two Republican candidates vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate. 

Carl Smink of Milton and Kevin Wade of New Castle are competing for the chance to represent Delaware in the Senate, but after Tuesday’s primary, only one will have the opportunity to run in the general election on Nov. 9 against incumbent Democrat Chris Coons of Wilmington and Green Party candidate Andrew Groff of Wilmington.

Earlier this week, Smink and Wade described their respective platforms during a visit to WHYY’s Wilmington studio. In a 30-second pitch, Smink referenced his Master’s degree in International Relations and his 35 years of work experience in and around Washington D.C.

“Vote for me, I have the experience and I have the qualification, many more qualifications than he (Kevin Wade) does,” Smink said.

Smink told voters that he is running a Christ-centered campaign and described his plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to push for the Bible to be the primary source of governance in the U.S.

“I want to stop the oppression coming out of the White House and get this country on a lawful basis again, where we have a rule of law and people have their freedoms,” Smink said.

According to Smink, people lost their freedom to choose their own doctor under the Affordable Care Act. He also suggested that the military could be better managed in the U.S.

“I believe in a strong Army, Navy and Air Force, a strong military, but we don’t need arms at every level in all of the homeland security agencies,” he said.

Although Wade shared similar views as Smink on economic issues, national security and the Affordable Care Act, his emphasized his stance on immigration issues.

“There’s an 18-year-old coming out high school, he has no working experience, and he has to compete against a 35-year-old illegal alien who has 20 hardworking years experience who’s willing to work for less than minimum wage. That’s wrong. We have to make jobs for our own first,” he said.

Wade, an engineer who started his own business in Delaware, isn’t worried about Smink, preferring to focus on Coons and the state of Delaware.

“I tell my audiences I wasn’t lucky enough to be born here but I got here as quick as I could,” Wade said.

Both Smink and Wade believe that they will be competitive against Coons and agree that their views differ from Coons with regard to legislative gridlock in Washington.

“Getting things done doesn’t always mean compromise, I’m very hesitant to engage in something that’s going to erode freedoms from our people,” Smink said.

“It’s my intention to be an independent voice for people across the political spectrum in Delaware. We need Delaware to have their voice in Washington,” Wade said.

To hear more of what the Republican candidates had to say, tune into ‘First’ tonight at 5:30p.m and 11p.m.