Potential Primary, General Election Weaknesses

The candidates were also asked about their own potential weaknesses, and in one instance, Flynn and Evers sparred.

"If we nominate somebody, a good person, who praised (Walker's) education budget … that's not a contrast," Flynn said. "It gives the appearance of 'Republican-light.'"

Flynn was referencing comments Evers made in February 2017 praising Walker's education budget, which would have increased state spending on schools by nearly $650 million.

Evers shot back.

"I need to respond to that cheap shot," Evers said. "My budget was absolutely pro-kid. And the reason I said that was because Scott Walker adopted that budget, almost 90 percent of it."

Roys was asked about her decision to run attack ads against now U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan during their 2012 Democratic primary.

"I made a mistake in that race," she said. "I had disagreements with him that were policy disagreements, but they were minor in the grand scheme of things."

Soglin was asked about his combative rhetorical style and how he could defend it.

"One of the things that's marked my political career is refusing to share in what some folks call a professional courtesy to other politicians," Soglin said.

Vinehout was asked about her 2009 vote against two people appointed to the UW Hospital and Clinics Authority Board who had supported a proposal to offer late-term abortions at the Madison surgery clinic. Pressed on why she voted against them, she didn't have an answer.

"A long time has elapsed," Vinehout said. "I've taken thousands of votes on appointments."

Flynn was also pressed on his work representing victims of priest abuse as a lawyer for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Taxes To Fund Education?

Soglin has said during this campaign that he would increase taxes to pay for schools. The other candidates were asked whether they would, too.

Most were hesitant.

"It's a question of priorities," said Vinehout. "Do we have the money? Yes, we have the money. But we can't spend $464 million on Foxconn's first budget payment. The money is there, but we need to rearrange the priorities."

"Yes, we need more money for our public schools," said Evers. "But whether it's tax increases or looking at tax credits we give out to the very, very wealthy people in the state, we have to look at all the issues. The only thing cannot be just a tax hike."

Flynn said he'd end the Foxconn deal, take federal money for the expansion of Medicaid and get rid of the manufacturers and agriculture tax exemption.

"That's where the money is going to come from for public education," he said. "Not from raised taxes."

McCabe said he'd end private school vouchers and spend that money on public schools instead.

"Wisconsin's been trying to fund two separate and parallel systems of education and hasn't been doing justice by one," McCabe said. "I favor ending taxpayer subsidized private schooling which has siphoned resources away from public schools."

Pade said the state could find education money by reducing the prison population. Roys called for ending tax credits for people who don't need them.

When it was Soglin's turn, he chided his Democratic opponents.

"Let's cut the crap," Soglin said. "If you're going to spend more money on schools, you've got to spend more tax money. That's all there is to it."