U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Republican challenger and construction magnate Tim Michels traded verbal jousts Friday night in a conversational-style debate that often grew contentious.
The candidates frequently talked over each other as they differed on policy positions at the debate at Wisconsin Public Television studios in Vilas Hall. Questions focused primarily on three issues: the war on terror, health care and the economy.
The candidates also watched one Michels and one Feingold campaign ad. When discussing an ad criticizing Michels' support for several trade bills, the two men disagreed on their definitions of leadership with arguments that would permeate the debate.
\It's easy to vote against everything ... because he finds these little flaws in there, and then he says 'It's not my fault, I'm not part of the problem,'"" Michels said, referring to Feingold's votes against the USA Patriot Act, the recent Medicare reform bill and certain free trade bills. ""That's not leadership. Leadership is about moving forward and trying to fix problems.""
""Leadership is standing up at the time and indicating what's wrong and fighting it, and I've been fighting for the Wisconsin jobs all along,"" Feingold said.
Feingold cast the lone Senate vote against the Patriot Act, citing civil liberties concerns. That vote and his opposition to the Iraq war drew criticism from Michels.
""I think Senator Feingold has demonstrated a pattern of being soft on terrorism,"" Michels said. Michels, a former U.S. Army officer, said the Iraq war is being fought for a worthy cause and to suggest otherwise is insulting.
Feingold said the Iraq war hurt the war on terrorism and accused Michels of insulting parents of soldiers by ignoring its problems.
""The fact is, [Iraq] wasn't a good idea in the fight against terrorism,"" Feingold said.
Both candidates said they oppose a draft.
Regarding health care, Feingold said he wanted a law to guarantee all Americans medical coverage. Michels said he would lower the cost of health care by bringing more competition into the marketplace.
Following the debate, each candidate said his opponent was misleading the voters with different portrayals of Feingold's Senate record.
""I think something's wrong with the way someone's trying to get elected,"" Feingold said about Michels' campaign ads.
""If [Feingold] would run on his record I would win in a landslide,"" Michels said.
