Top takeaways from final governor's debate: Knives out for Becerra

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SAN FRANCISCO — As Californians cast ballots in the most unsettled governor’s race in recent history, former U.S.Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat surging in the polls, once again took most of the heat during a contentious debate among the top candidates for California governor.

Becerra’s rapid rise as the top Democrat in the race was greeted on stage by a fusillade of political attacks from rival Democrats and Republicans, notably regarding his former campaign manager’s guilty plea to federal corruption charges hours before the clash.Then came accusations that he wavered on support for single-payer healthcare, and failed to stem healthcare and unemployment fraud while serving as California’s attorney general.

“This is what happens when you take the lead in the polls and you’re ahead of everyone else.They all come at you,” Becerra said.

“I get it.So they have to try to beat you down.

This is a great Trump tactic that’s used.I didn’t expect it to come from fellow Democrats.”“With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Becerra later said.The face-off took place at a critical moment before the June 2 primary.

Republican voters appear to be consolidating behind Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, while Becerra and billionaire hedge fund founder Tom Steyer are favored most by Democrats.As ballots land in mailboxes, California voters are finally tuning in to the race to lead the nation’s most populous state and fourth-largest economy in the world.Thursday’s 90-minute CBS debate may have been the final opportunity for candidates to directly address large numbers of voters.Until now, scandal drew the most attention to the contest, as former U.S.

Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), once an establishment favorite and nominal front-runner, dropped out in April amid allegations of sexual assault and misconductFive Democr...