A total of three candidates made the ballot in the Republican primary, insurance agent Tim Philbin, Rutland mayor Jeff Wennberg, and Ralph Sinclair.[3] Wennberg was considered a moderate Republican, backing abortion rights and tax increases on the rich, while Philbin and Sinclair were conservative Republicans who were opposed to abortion and any tax increases.[3] Originally, Wennberg was considered the frontrunner in the primary, but in early September 1992 Sinclair, who had fallen into a distinct third place in the race, withdrew his candidacy and backed Philbin, which was viewed as potentially giving the latter the edge.[3]
As the campaign began Sanders and Philbin immediately began to attack each other in the press, with their sniping deemed by the Brattleboro Reformer as a "fax war".[13] Sanders attacked Philbin for opposing abortions, even in cases of rape and incest, and championed his own record supporting abortion rights.[13] Philbin responded by accusing Sanders of misrepresenting his position, and accused the incumbent of supporting "fat budgets and high taxes".[13]
Debates
1992 Vermont at-large congressional district general election debates
^Mitchell, Robert W.; Wild, Kendall; Van Hoesen, John W. (September 1, 1992). "Making a Choice". Rutland Daily Herald. Retrieved August 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Mitchell, Robert W.; Wild, Kendall; Van Hoesen, John W. (November 2, 1992). "For Leahy and Sanders". Rutland Daily Herald. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
