WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi might be known for the thought-provoking discussions that highlight his daily radio show, but today’s debate between Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. Council Chair Vince Gray didn’t shed much new light on either of the two candidates or the issues that have come to define the tight contest between the two. (Video highlights can be found here.)

After opening with a question on the racial divide that marks support for the two candidates — Gray claimed he would work to unify the city, Fenty listed his accomplishments in wards 7 and 8 — Kojo and guest analyst Tom Sherwood threw out questions on everything from teacher firings to the city budget to personality flaws.

On D.C. teachers, Fenty solidly backed Chancellor Michelle Rhee, blamed Gray and the council for forcing her to choose between firings and summer school programs, and argued that “politicians need to stay out of running of schools.” Gray agreed with the need to fire teachers who don’t perform, but questioned the use of the IMPACT evaluations that were recently used to justify a new round of dismissals. He also defended the council’s budgeting on schools, blaming Rhee for shifting funds around and using a supposed deficit as a reason to fire teachers in later 2009.