“My opponent doesn’t understand,” she said. “We will [generate] increased tax revenues by growing the companies that are already here.”

In turn, Romney faulted O’Brien for failing to fulfill her promise to lower the per capita state debt, which he said is now the highest of any state in the nation.

Debating the Debate

Harsh words were not limited to the debate hall, with three candidates taking legal action against the media consortium organizing the event.

Green Party candidate Jill E. Stein ’73, Libertarian Carla A. Howell and independent candidate Barbara Johnson filed suit over their exclusion from the debate, but were unsuccessful in gaining entry.

At the beginning of last night’s debate, a man in the crowd interrupted Romney’s opening statement, calling the debate “a mockery of democracy” and calling for Stein’s presence on the stage.

Romney responded by saying that he would have chosen to include all candidates, but it had not been his choice who to include in the debate.

“I hope that at the next debate, all the candidates will be allowed on the stage,” he said.

O’Brien attacked Romney for his refusal to have more than three debates, calling them “job interviews” for the governor’s office.

But Romney said he thought O’Brien’s proposals were excessive, adding there was no need for people to watch so many events.

“It’s very important that our citizen’s get a good night’s sleep” he said over boos in the audience.

“I don’t think you give [Massachusetts residents] enough credit for their intelligence,” O’Brien countered.

—Staff writer David S. Hirsch can be reached at hirsch@fas.harvard.edu.