“I’m not really running alone. I’m running with Rohit,” Lurie said. “Rohit’s the good cop. I’m the bad cop.”

All of the candidates had to respond to some questions from Blenkinsopp and each other about their achievements and their potential weaknesses.

Barro responded to questions about his people skills and his voting record.

When Barro was asked by Blenkinsopp about calling someone “an idiot” during a council meeting, he admitted to having a “confrontational” attitude, but insisted that it would be an asset for the council.

Early in the debate, Lurie directly attacked Barro, accusing him of voting against an amendment that would have increased grant money for student groups.

When Barro responded by pointing out that the council’s grant fund increased by $35,000 this year, Lurie said that there was only an increase because council member Justin R. Chapa ’05 found lost council money.

Barro said that Lurie was “simultaneosly [his] favorite and least favorite person,” on the council.

When asked about having a “fiery, sometimes hyperbolic” personality, Lurie compared his style to Chopra’s.

“[Chopra] was ready to burn bridges. That’s something I do well, damn-it,” he said.

But Lurie said that talking to administrators might be a problem for him.

“I’m kind of a jerk,” he reflected.

“We need to cut back on services that no one wants,” Lurie said. “We shouldn’t get craptastic bands.”

Mahan discussed concerns about how well his all-white-male ticket could represent students by insisting that he would reach out to students.

“This is not going to be a two-person administration,” he said.

In addition to student advocacy, much of the debate focused on Chopra’s term and how the council could maintain its relationship with administrators in the wake of his departure as council president.