U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, and his Republican challenger, Oshkosh manufacturer Ron Johnson, found little to agree on in their contentious third and final debate at Marquette Law School in Milwaukee Friday.
Johnson criticized Feingold's vote for the stimulus package and his disconnect from the business world.
""The premise of that is … the government can create long-term self-sustaining jobs, and that's just wrong,"" Johnson said.
Feingold attacked what he called Johnson's lack of specific plans and his avoiding the questions.
Johnson noted that over Feingold's 18-year Senate career, however, the deficit has gone from $4 trillion to $14 trillion, referencing his most recent television ad.
""Everybody knows that when Bill Clinton was president we worked together, we completely balanced the budget. I took very tough votes,"" Feingold shot back. ""And then I stood up to the deficit spending of the Bush administration. Your ad is absolutely dishonest, Ron.""
The two also disagreed on the recent decision by a federal judge to overturn the military's ""don't ask, don't tell"" policy.
Feingold said he supported a fully integrated military, while Johnson said he disagreed with the judge's injunction and that the military needs more information on the effects of removing the policy before overturning it.
""That's what the American people, that's what Wisconsin voters dislike, when one federal judge replaces democracy,"" Johnson said. ""I think we should get the input from the people who actually serve.""
When it comes to the conflict in Afghanistan, Johnson said there should be no limit on the military's presence there so long as Afghanistan acts as a haven for terrorists.
""We better get ready to invade just about every country in the world then,"" Feingold said in response, arguing that Al-Qaeda is an international problem that cannot be solved with the invasion of just one country.
In their final statements, the two candidates presented very different offers to Wisconsin voters.
Johnson said he could bring a fresh, business world discipline to Washington to fix the deficit. Feingold emphasized his experience and reputation for fiscal responsibility.
