Not surprisingly, Mazie Hirono and Ed Case repeatedly assured AARP Hawaii members that they would fight to keep intact Social Security and Medicare if elected to the U.S. Senate.

The candidates expressed some differences on how to do that, though — e.g., Hirono would not raise the retirement age, but Case would for those folks now in their 20s and 30s.

The Democrats also clashed several times, as when Case criticized Hirono for lacking a detailed agenda and Hirono taking Case to task over his “no” votes on Medicare Part D.

The debate was held Tuesday morning (June 12) at a Kahului hotel.