Dan Malloy, mayor of Stamford, wants to start with the kids. John DeStefano, Jr., New Haven's mayor, says we need more: poor adults must be covered, too. The two faced off during a debate hosted by the Progreso Latino Fund at the North Haven Holiday Inn.

Malloy said the first thing he'd accomplish as governor would be "to make sure that every child in the state has health insurance." His plan, which he rolled out in January, would expand the state-funded HUSKY program so that all the state's uninsured children would get coverage. Right now, there are 71,000 uninsured children in the state.

"That is unacceptable, and it is my job as governor to get the job done," said Malloy.

DeStefano said kids' insurance doesn't go far enough. His sweeping plan would bring universal care to all. "The biggest complaint I hear from small businesses is the cost of health care. It's a huge problem in terms of economic growth." DeStefano suggested a plan — universal, portable and preventive — to bring healthcare to all. The insurance plan would be carried from employer to employer the same way social security is. "It won't cover everything, everything," but would focus on basic, preventive care.

"Is there a specific mechanism?" cut in David Medina, the moderator. DeStefano said specifics would be forthcoming: "We're going to roll out a health care plan in a month." But he said he is confident "there's the brains in the state," and interest in the private sector, to accomplish the task.

"I want every adult to have affordable health insurance," said Malloy, but he said the kids' plan was the first priority. He offered the kid-focused plan as more feasible than pushing immediately for universal health care for adults. Making an apparent dig at his opponent, he said, "Anyone who tells you that we can do that in one night is purposefully misleading you."